JTechLP
Vol 5, No 3, Nov (2026): JTechLP: Journal of Technology in Language Pedagogy

THE EFFECT OF DIGITAL BOOKS ON EFL STUDENTS' READING INTEREST: A PRE-EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Khusnul Khotimah Badaruddin (Universitas Negeri Makassar)
Baso Jabu (Universitas Negeri Makassar)
Geminastiti Sakkir (Universitas Negeri Makassar)



Article Info

Publish Date
04 Nov 2026

Abstract

Reading interest plays an important role in supporting students' engagement with reading activities, particularly in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts. Digital books offer an alternative learning medium that may encourage students to develop greater interest in reading through accessible and interactive reading experiences. This study aimed to examine the effect of digital books on the reading interest of eighth-grade students at SMP Negeri 3 Anggeraja. A quantitative approach was employed using a pre-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design. The participants consisted of 20 students selected through cluster random sampling. Data were collected using a reading interest questionnaire administered before and after a four-week intervention involving digital books. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a paired-samples t-test with the assistance of IBM SPSS. The descriptive findings indicated slight changes in students' reading interest levels following the intervention. Before the treatment, 60% of students were categorized as having high reading interest, 35% as moderate, and 5% as very high. After the treatment, the proportion of students in the high category increased to 65%, while the moderate category decreased to 30%, and the very high category remained unchanged at 5%. However, the paired-samples t-test revealed no statistically significant difference between students' pretest and posttest scores (p = 1.000, p > 0.05). These findings indicate that the implementation of digital books did not produce a statistically significant improvement in students' reading interest during the intervention period. Therefore, while digital books may provide accessible reading experiences, their use alone may not be sufficient to significantly enhance students' interest in reading English.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

JTechLP

Publisher

Subject

Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Social Sciences

Description

Journal of Technology in Language Pedagogy is a peer-reviewed and open-access journal in language education. The aim is to publish conceptual and research articles that explore the application of any technology in language pedagogy and the everyday experience of technology in education. It welcomes ...