世論 What Japan Thinks

A recent survey from Marsh Inc, reported on by japan.internet.com, took an interesting look at books, and in particular how the internet has changed people’s habits.

Demographics

Between the 31st of March and the 2nd of April 2010 300 members of the Marsh monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. The sample was 50:50 male and feamle, 1.0% in their teens, 19.0 in their twenties, 20.0% in their thirties, 20.0% in their forties, 20.0% in their fifties, and 20.0% aged sixty or older.

I probably read slightly more in books than on-screen, especially if printed-out technical documentation and papers are taken into consideration. Since starting using the internet, however, spare time is much more likely to be filled with surfing than with reading, and now with a netbook, it will get stuffed into a rucksack with much more frequency than a book.

Research results

Q1: Are you in the habit of reading books, magazines, comics, etc? (Sample size=300)

Yes	81.3%
No	18.7%

Q2: Since starting using the internet, how have your opportunities for reading changed? (Sample size=300)

Greatly increased	1.3%
Increased a little	12.3%
Not changed	49.0%
Decreased a little	23.3%
Greatly decreased	14.0%

Q3: Where do you read more sentences, on the internet or in books? (Sample size=300)

Much more on internet	19.7%
More on internet	22.7%
Can’t say either way	21.7%
More in books	24.7%
Much more in books	11.3%