Reading Habits of North-eastern Youth: A Case Study Conducted for Communication Research Project in IIMC (January 2008)

CHAPTER2: OBJECTIVES


Ø To look into the pattern of reading of North-eastern youth
Ø To estimate the amount of time devoted to reading by them
Ø To study the frequency of reading of the North-eastern youth
Ø To find out the kinds of reading materials read by them
Ø To determine the average base year of their reading
Ø To estimate their average spending on reading materials

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY
For the study, we framed a questionnaire of 20 questions and conducted a sample survey consisting of 100 persons. The sample consisted of heterogeneous mix of males and females; professionals/working youth and students: humanities and commerce, science and technology, medicine and management, etc.
The respondents were randomly chosen from north-eastern youth staying in and around Delhi. However, some amount of uniformity in number and distribution of respondents in terms of different places within and outside Delhi was maintained. That is, more or less, equal number of respondents was taken from each locality as well as their fields of study or works, including gender.
We considered the following parameters:
· Profession/work
· Courses being pursued
· Kinds of books/reading materials
· Time & frequency of reading
· Amount being spent on reading materials

CHAPTER 4: NORTH-EASTERN YOUTH
For the purpose of this study, the north-eastern youth has been divided into following broad groups based on gender and occupation:
Based on Sex/gender:
· Male
· Female
Based on occupation:
· Working/employed youth
§ Government jobs
§ Professionals
· Entrepreneurs
· Students
§ Those who are pursuing higher studies viz. PhD, SRF/JRF, Phil, etc.
§ Those who are preparing for Competitive Examinations
§ Regular students (College-goers)
Ø Humanities
Ø Basic Sciences
Ø Commerce
Ø Engineering
Ø Medicine
Ø Management
Ø Other professional courses

CHAPTER 5: RESULT
Total Respondents: 100
Males: 50
Females: 50

Table 1: Newspapers read by youth per day
Different groups of north-eastern Youth
Newspapers read in a day
I. Male reading
a) Only 1 newspaper per day: 20÷50 x 100 = 40%
b) 2-3 newspapers per day: 25÷50 x 100 = 50%
c) >3 newspapers per day: 05÷50 x 100 = 10%
II. Female reading
a) Only 1 newspaper per day: 35÷50 x 100 = 70%
b) 2-3 newspapers per day: 15÷50 x 100 = 30%

III. Working youth/professional reading
a) Only 1 newspaper per day: 15÷100 x 100 = 15%
IV. Entrepreneurs reading
a) Only 1 newspaper per day: 15÷100 x 100 = 15%
V. Students reading
a) Pursuing higher studies:
1. 13÷70 x 100 = 18.5% ( 1 newspaper per day)
2. 02÷70 x 100 = 2.8% (2-3 newspapers per day)
b) Preparing for Competitive exams:
1. 20÷70 x 100 = 28.57% ( 2-3 newspapers per day)
2. 05÷70 x 100 = 7.14% (>3 newspapers per day)
c) Regular students:
1. 07÷70 x 100 = 10% ( 1 newspaper per day)
2. 23÷70 x 100 = 32.85% (2-3 newspapers per day)

Table 2: Books/magazines subscribed per month
Different groups of north-eastern Youth
Books/ magazines subscribed (per month)
Calculation:
I. Male subscribing
a) Only 1 books/magazines per month: 20÷50 x 100 = 40%
b) 3-5 books/magazines per month: 13÷50 x 100 = 26%
c) >5 books/magazines per month: 17÷50 x 100 = 34%
II. Female subscribing
a) Only 1 books/magazines per month: 25÷50 x 100 = 50%
b) 3-5 books/magazines per month: 15÷50 x 100 = 30%
c) >5 books/magazines per month: 10÷50 x 100 = 20%
III. Working youth/professional reading
a) Only 1 books/magazines per month: 15÷100 x 100 = 15%
IV. Entrepreneurs reading
a) Only 1 books/magazines per month: 15÷100 x 100 = 15%
V. Students reading
a) Pursuing higher studies:
1. 08÷70 x 100 = 11.4% ( 1 books/magazines per month)
2. 05÷70 x 100 = 7.14% (3-5 books/magazines per month)
3. 02÷70 x 100 = 2.8% (books/magazines per month)
b) Preparing for Competitive exams:
1. 10÷70 x 100 = 14.28% ( 2-3 newspapers per day)
2. 10÷70 x 100 = 14.28% (>3 newspapers per day)
3. 05÷70 x 100 = 7.14% (>5 books/magazines per month)
c) Regular students:
1. 16÷70 x 100 = 22.8% ( 1 books/magazines per month)
2. 10÷70 x 100 = 14.28% (3-5 books/magazines per month)
3. 04÷70 x 100 = 5.7% (>5 books/magazines per month)

Table 3: Time spent on reading
Different groups of north-eastern Youth
Time spent on reading (hrs/day)
Calculation:
I. Male reading
d) 1-3 hrs/day: 30÷50 x 100 = 60%
e) 3-5 hrs/day: 10÷50 x 100 = 20%
f) >5 hrs/day: 10÷50 x 100 = 20%
II. Female reading
a) 1-3 hrs/day: 40÷50 x 100 = 80%
b) 3-5 hrs/day: 10÷50 x 100 = 20%
III. Working youth/professional reading
a) 1-3 hrs/day: 15÷100 x 100 = 15%
IV. Entrepreneurs reading
a) 1-3 hrs/day: 15÷100 x 100 = 15%
V. Students reading
a) Pursuing higher studies:
2. 10÷70 x 100 = 14.2% ( 1-3 hrs/day)
3. 05÷70 x 100 = 7.14% (3-5 hrs/day)

b) Preparing for Competitive exams:
4. 04÷70 x 100 = 5.7% ( 1-3 hrs/day)
5. 06÷70 x 100 = 8.57% (3-5 hrs/day)
6. 15÷70 x 100 = 21.4% (>5 hrs/day)
c) Regular students:
1. 20÷70 x 100 = 28.57% ( 1-3 hrs/day)
2. 10÷70 x 100 = 14.28% (3-5 hrs/day)

Table 4: Monthly spending on reading materials
Different groups of north-eastern Youth
Monthly spending on reading materials (in Rs)
Calculation:
I. Male spending
g) Rs 100-300/month: 10÷50 x 100 = 40%
h) Rs 300-500/month: 20÷50 x 100 = 26%
i) >500/month: 20÷50 x 100 = 34%
II. Female subscribing
c) Rs 100-300/month: 30÷50 x 100 = 60%
d) Rs 300-500/month: 10÷50 x 100 = 20%
e) >500/month: 10÷50 x 100 = 20%
III. Working youth/professional reading
b) Rs 100-300/month: 15÷100 x 100 = 15%
IV. Entrepreneurs reading
b) Rs 100-300/month: 15÷100 x 100 = 15%
V. Students reading
d) Pursuing higher studies:
7. 10÷70 x 100 = 14.2% ( Rs 100-300/month)
8. 05÷70 x 100 = 7.14% (Rs 300-500/month)
e) Preparing for Competitive exams:
9. 03÷70 x 100 = 4.28% ( Rs 100-300/month)
10. 7÷70 x 100 = 10% (Rs 300-500/month)
11. 10÷70 x 100 = 14.28 % (>500/month)
f) Regular students:
1. 10÷70 x 100 = 14.28% ( Rs 100-300/month)
2. 20÷70 x 100 = 28.57% (Rs 300-500/month)

CHAPTER 6: DISCUSSION
MALE & FEMALE READING HABITS
There is sufficient gulf between male and female reading habits. Most of the male respondents prefer reading books and magazines related to general knowledge, current affairs, science and technology, economy, sports, real life stories, biographies, etc., while rest of the males prefer books on life-style, film, gossips, etc. On the other hand, females generally like reading such books as novels, comics, life-style magazines, accessory magazines, books on women-related issues and so on.
WORKING YOUTH/PROFESSIONALS
Among professional/working youth, paucity of time definitely reduces the frequency of their reading. Accordingly, the reading habit of professional/working youth is very erratic, inconsistent and irregular. Still, they find time to read. They read to keep themselves informed about current happenings around the globe. So, they, basically, read newspapers and weekly/monthly magazines regularly. They read extensively.
Youth in government jobs, depending on their official position, designation and status, read accordingly. They mostly read newspapers with news items related to government policies, new legislations, articles, comments, analysis and editorials of the papers.
ENTREPRENEURS
Entrepreneurs are the busiest of the groups. They have to be on their toes all the time. They are more concerned with their livelihood activities. As such, they have very little time to read much, yet they are sufficiently aware about major happenings and daily news through newspaper reading. Most of them, mainly, go through the headlines, editorials and international & sport sections.
STUDENTS
Student youth read more widely and vigorously than working youth/professionals or entrepreneurs. They have ample times compared to the former groups of the north-eastern youth.
· Pursuing higher studies viz. PhD, SRF/JRF, Phil, etc.
They are more inclined towards academic excellence. Obviously, they do read magazines and newspapers; but they engross themselves in books related to their field of study most of the times. They are, in fact, busy for their research works either in libraries or fields.
· Preparing For Civil Services & Other Competitive Examinations
Students who are preparing for competitive examinations read intensively as well as extensively. Broadly, they read newspapers, in addition to books/magazines on current affairs, political & economic developments, sports & international events, government policies & legislation to enhance, enlarge and expand their general knowledge base. Therefore, most of them subscribe at least two newspapers. The Times of India, The Hindu, The Hindustan Times and The Indian Express are popularly subscribed by them. Besides, magazines such as Frontline, Outlook, India Today, Competition Refresher, Chronicle, Manorama Year Book, etc. are essentially read by them. Some of them also read various other books like short stories, novels, autobiographies, biographies, real life accounts and so on.
· College goers
Students of Humanities & Commerce have maximum amount of leisure time compared to other student groups to indulge in reading variety of stuffs, apart from their academic books. They are fond of reading such books as novels, story books, autobiographies, biographies, including magazines on gossips, life-style, gadgets, accessories, vehicles, fashion & trends. Certainly, they also read general knowledge books/magazines.
Students of Science, engineering, medicine, management & other professional courses are relatively more concerned with their respective careers. So, they devote more times studying their class, text or academic books. Otherwise also, they are busy doing their projects, class assignments, report preparation, class presentation. Literally, they have no much time to browse magazines/newspapers intensely or enormously, except perhaps for matters of importance to their fields/courses of study or careers.
However, whatever little leisure time they get or curve-out from their hectic schedules, they of course read other books/magazines and newspapers; but they don’t really read as much as their counter-parts in Humanities & Commerce.

CHAPTER 7: CONCLUSION
Spread of modern education system has greatly changed the outlook of the youth of north-east. Along-with their academic studies, youths are reading various other books/magazines, newspapers, etc. Naturally, reading habit is seeping into the blood. Consequently, the knowledge and understanding among them about the intricate realities of modern world are immensely expanding.
Since youth are reading a myriad of books/magazines, including newspapers, they (especially students preparing for competitive exams) are pretty well-informed, particularly on matters of current affairs, sports and major international events.
Regrettably, only marginal proportion of them is into regular reading; read enthusiastically and with passion & interest. Majority of them read during leisure time and occasionally. Other than their academic studies, they spend their time playing games, watching television/movies, internet-surfing: orkuting, chatting, etc., listening music, other hobbies like learning music: singing, instruments such as guitar, drumset, octopad.
Thus, they really have no enough time for developing and enriching their reading habit. Genuinely so, the reading habit among north-eastern youth isn’t properly evolved and in nascent stage. As a matter of fact, it’s time for reality check. The youth should realize that reading habit is an inevitable part of personal growth and prosperity. As much reading one does, s/he gets as many information, and the awareness, knowledge, education, attitudinal change and other characteristic traits are polished, refined and enriched. The individual is enlightened intellectually, academically, politically, economically and socially.