Influence of reading fiction on adolescent females

Abstract

This study was designed to determine to what extent the self-selected reading choices of adolescent girls are currently influencing, or may in the future influence their beliefs, behaviors, or self-esteem. Fifteen subjects completed quantitative and/or qualitative measures. Quantitative data analyzed what specifically each girl was reading and determined if the books may have caused changes in their feelings in the respective areas. Some significant results were found. Qualitative data asked girls to answer open-ended questions regarding their reading habits and feelings about character behaviors/ actions. Quantitative data was analyzed using a repeated measures ANOVA, and qualitative dated was generalized, noting unique or minority responses among participants, which is addressed within.