Gender Differences in Text?Based Interest: Text Characteristics as Underlying Variables

Reading motivation is a fundamental basis for reading behavior and performance. For learners, interest an exceedingly important component of motivation. Prior research has shown that students’ text-based varies significantly between texts. However, it still unclear why one text elicits greater over another. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether different characteristics, such as genre, topic, protagonists’ gender, are systematically related to interest. Furthermore, examined differences girls boys. We used data from sample 504 fourth-grade elementary school students answer these questions. Eight texts were manipulated experimentally with respect gender. Students assigned randomly read the eight Structural equation models showed was Moreover, gender interacted topic boys less interested more female-typed female protagonists. The findings imply characteristics might help educators select material encourage results discussed terms educational practice.