Is It Better to Read Books or Listen to Them?
We often think how fast we learn something depends on how smart we are. If your brain is taking in material quickly, you're clever; if not, well, that doesn't say great things about your IQ. But science shows context (上下文) and technique (技术) actually play a big role in how fast we learn, and even small changes – like the way you use to read – can make a big difference.
Audio (音频的) books have plenty of advantages: you can enjoy them anywhere, even in the car, and not printing books saves trees. Poor readers also often find them more interesting. But according to the latest research, if your goal isn't to pass the time in traffic, but instead to learn something difficult, you should choose a physical book.
In a recent opinion piece in the New York Times, psychology (心理学) professor Daniel T.
Willingham mentioned a 2010 study where 48 students either read or listened to an article about child psychology. Although the students spent the same amount of time with their material and did about the same number of distracting (分散注意力) activities while they absorbed the information, they scored very differently on a 10-item quiz later. Generally, the readers scored 81 percent but while the listeners scored 59 percent. Why does listening vs reading material have such a great effect on learning?
Willingham explains that first, most of us read more slowly than we listen (especially when pausing and rereading), and when you're trying to absorb new information, slower seems to be better. "About 10 to 15 percent of eye movements during reading are actually regressive – meaning the eyes are going back and re-checking," he explains to TIME. "This happens very quickly…"
Second, books offer visual cues (可视线索) that help our brains organize and understand new information. Things like chapter breaks, subheadings, and lists help us in making sense of the material and understanding how it fits together. You lose all that when you go the audio way.
The bottom line is simple: Don't feel shame about passing your time in traffic with an audio book. However, be aware of audio's limitations when it comes to studying, and seriously consider choosing good old-fashioned reading instead.
