Comparison of student attitudes towards printed and digital dictionary use: A case of middle school

The present study aimed to compare the attitudes of middle school students towards printed and digital dictionary use. The study was conducted with the survey model since it aimed to determine a present situation. The study population included the students attending a middle school in Giresun province urban center during the 2018-2019 academic year. The sample that represented the study population was randomly selected (n = 204) among the students attending a middle school in Giresun city center. The study data were collected with information form and attitude scales. The study findings demonstrated that the general attitudes of the students towards printed dictionary use (X=2.54/4.00) and digital dictionary use (X=2.76/4.00) were good. Furthermore, it was determined that gender did not have a significant effect on dictionary use attitude. The most important study findings included the improvement of student attitudes towards dictionary use with the increase in grade level, and the dictionary use attitudes of the students who started to use printed dictionaries during primary school or before were higher when compared to other students. However, the attitude towards digital dictionary use was observed as a developing attitude.