The growing concern that teenagers don't read, led to this study. The study is preceded by an explanation of aspects in which the teenager develops, the value of reading and the influence of the environment on the teenager's utilisation of leisure time. In the study, a total of 478 Afrikaans-speaking pupils from grade seven to grade ten completed different questionnaires, whereby their reading interests and habits were determined. Some of the important findings of the study are: - although teenagers indicated their preference of fiction reading as that of horror and ghost stories, the romantic Sweet Valley series is read the most; - they prefer main characters who have the same religion and interests as they have; - cartoons and the periodical, Huisgenoot, are popular with all age groups; - books in Afrikaans are seemingly not popular; - the title and blurb are "decisive in the choice of a book; - teenagers consider it as normal that so little time is spent on reading; A few recommendations are made at the end of the study. / Die groeiende kommer dat tienderjariges nie lees nie, het tot die studie gelei. Die studie is voorafgegaan deur 'n uiteensetting van die aspekte waarvolgens tienderjariges ontwikkel; die waarde van lees en die invloed van die omgewing op tienderjariges se vryetydsbesteding. In die studie het 'n totaal van 478 Afrikaanssprekende leerlinge vanaf graad sewe tot graad tien verskillende vraelyste ingevul, waardeur hul leesbelangstellings en -gewoontes vasgestel is. Van die belangrikste bevindings van die studie is: ~ alhoewel tienderjariges aangedui het dat hulle gruwelverhale of spookstories as leesbelangstelling van fiksie verkies, word die romantiese Sweet Valley reeks die meeste gelees; - hoofkarakters wat dieselfde geloof aanhang en belangstellings as hulle het, word verkies; - strokiesprente en die tydskrif, Huisgenoot, is by alle ouderdomsgroepe gewild; - boeke in Afrikaans is skynbaar nie gewild nie; - die titel en die flapteks is deurslaggewend in die keuse van 'n boek; - tienderjariges beskou dit as normaal dat so min tyd aan lees spandeer word, 'n Paar aanbevelings word aan die einde van die studie gemaak. / Information Science / M.Inf. (Information Science)

The growing concern that teenagers don't read, led to this study. The study is preceded by an explanation of aspects in which the teenager develops, the value of reading and the influence of the environment on the teenager's utilisation of leisure time. In the study, a total of 478 Afrikaans-speaking pupils from grade seven to grade ten completed different questionnaires, whereby their reading interests and habits were determined. Some of the important findings of the study are: - although teenagers indicated their preference of fiction reading as that of horror and ghost stories, the romantic Sweet Valley series is read the most; - they prefer main characters who have the same religion and interests as they have; - cartoons and the periodical, Huisgenoot, are popular with all age groups; - books in Afrikaans are seemingly not popular; - the title and blurb are "decisive in the choice of a book; - teenagers consider it as normal that so little time is spent on reading; A few recommendations are made at the end of the study. / Die groeiende kommer dat tienderjariges nie lees nie, het tot die studie gelei. Die studie is voorafgegaan deur 'n uiteensetting van die aspekte waarvolgens tienderjariges ontwikkel; die waarde van lees en die invloed van die omgewing op tienderjariges se vryetydsbesteding. In die studie het 'n totaal van 478 Afrikaanssprekende leerlinge vanaf graad sewe tot graad tien verskillende vraelyste ingevul, waardeur hul leesbelangstellings en -gewoontes vasgestel is. Van die belangrikste bevindings van die studie is: ~ alhoewel tienderjariges aangedui het dat hulle gruwelverhale of spookstories as leesbelangstelling van fiksie verkies, word die romantiese Sweet Valley reeks die meeste gelees; - hoofkarakters wat dieselfde geloof aanhang en belangstellings as hulle het, word verkies; - strokiesprente en die tydskrif, Huisgenoot, is by alle ouderdomsgroepe gewild; - boeke in Afrikaans is skynbaar nie gewild nie; - die titel en die flapteks is deurslaggewend in die keuse van 'n boek; - tienderjariges beskou dit as normaal dat so min tyd aan lees spandeer word, 'n Paar aanbevelings word aan die einde van die studie gemaak. / Information Science / M.Inf. (Information Science)

This research is concerned with an investigation into the factors relating to the reading habits of Indian secondary school pupils in the Phoenix area. It is important to acknowledge that among our youth there are both avid and reluctant readers during and after the period of formal education. It is the group of reluctant readers that has to be lured by the magic of reading. There is a remarkable variation in the reading habits of pupils from the same school. A self-designed questionnaire was administered to 544 boys and girls from standards 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. The descriptive data available were then analysed and interpreted. The study revealed that the amount of time spent on reading and the number of books read (which together determined reading habits) by pupils was influenced by such factors as home, school, social environment, socioeconomic status, the influence of other media and the personal aspect / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

This research is concerned with an investigation into the factors relating to the reading habits of Indian secondary school pupils in the Phoenix area. It is important to acknowledge that among our youth there are both avid and reluctant readers during and after the period of formal education. It is the group of reluctant readers that has to be lured by the magic of reading. There is a remarkable variation in the reading habits of pupils from the same school. A self-designed questionnaire was administered to 544 boys and girls from standards 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. The descriptive data available were then analysed and interpreted. The study revealed that the amount of time spent on reading and the number of books read (which together determined reading habits) by pupils was influenced by such factors as home, school, social environment, socioeconomic status, the influence of other media and the personal aspect / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)