Research article    |    Open Access
International Journal of Language and Education Research 2025, Vol. 7(1) 140-163

Background Music and Content Expansion in an e-Book as Support for Story Comprehension for Pre-schoolers

Anat Ben Shabat

pp. 140 - 163

Publish Date: April 30, 2025  |   Single/Total View: 2/0   |   Single/Total Download: 2/0


Abstract

Do multimedia components in e-books support pre-schoolers' story comprehension? Participants included 160 low SES children (aged 5 to 6), who were randomly assigned to one of 4 groups: reading an e-book (a) accompanied by background music and content expansion; (b) without music but with expansion; (c) with music but without expansion; (d) without music and without expansion (control). Pre-tests and post-tests examined children's story comprehension. The findings show that the combination of background music and content expansion was the most efficient way for children's story comprehension. Content expansion support without background music was more effective than background music alone. Although quiet background music in itself was less supportive for story comprehension, it created a beneficial synergetic effect when it appeared together with the story content.

Keywords: Pre-school education, literacy, e-book, comprehension, background music, content expansion


How to Cite this Article?

APA 7th edition
Shabat, A.B. (2025). Background Music and Content Expansion in an e-Book as Support for Story Comprehension for Pre-schoolers. International Journal of Language and Education Research, 7(1), 140-163.

Harvard
Shabat, A. (2025). Background Music and Content Expansion in an e-Book as Support for Story Comprehension for Pre-schoolers. International Journal of Language and Education Research, 7(1), pp. 140-163.

Chicago 16th edition
Shabat, Anat Ben (2025). "Background Music and Content Expansion in an e-Book as Support for Story Comprehension for Pre-schoolers". International Journal of Language and Education Research 7 (1):140-163.

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