Keywords

Note-taking, handwriting, computer-writing, short-term memory, levels of processing, higher education

Abstract

Taking notes is a common strategy among higher education students, and has been found to affect their academic performance. Nowadays, however, the use of computers is replacing the traditional pencil-and-paper methodology. The present study aims to identify the advantages and disadvantages associated with the use of computer (typing) and pencil-and-paper (handwriting) for taking notes by college students. A total of 251 social and health science students participated in the study. Two experimental conditions were chosen: taking notes by hand (n=211), and taking notes by computer (n=40). Those that used computer-written notes performed better on tasks based on reproducing the alphabet, writing sentences, and recognizing words (p<.05). However, those using handwritten notes performed better on free recall tasks (p<.05). Differences between the two conditions were statistically significant rejecting the hypothesis of equality between groups (X2=60.98; p<.0001). In addition, the discriminant analysis confirmed that 77.3% of students were correctly classified by the experimental conditions. Although the computer allowed for greater velocity when taking notes, handwriting enhanced students’ grades when performing memory tasks.

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Technical information

Received: 18-11-2015

Revised: 04-01-2016

Accepted: 22-02-2016

OnlineFirst: 15-05-2016

Publication date: 01-07-2016

Article revision time: 47 days | Average time revision issue 48: 29 days

Article acceptance time: 96 days | Average time of acceptance issue 48: 73 days

Preprint editing time: 180 days | Average editing time preprint issue 48: 157 days

Article editing time: 225 days | Average editing time issue 48: 202 days

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Aragón-Mendizábal, E., Delgado-Casas, C., Navarro-Guzmán, J., Menacho-Jiménez, I., & Romero-Oliva, M. (2016). A comparative study of handwriting and computer typing in note-taking by university students. [Análisis comparativo entre escritura manual y electrónica en la toma de apuntes de estudiantes universitarios ]. Comunicar, 48, 101-107. https://doi.org/10.3916/C48-2016-10

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