An investigation into the relationship between fiction and nonfiction reading exposure, and factors of critical thinking

Abstract Reading fiction has been associated with improved social and imaginative reasoning that could lead to critical thinking. This observational study investigated the relationship between nonfiction exposure, narrative transportation, factors of thinking (critical disposition, epistemological orientation). Self-selecting participants ( N = 335) completed an online survey including author recognition test self-report scales. Fiction scores were significantly higher while had inverse effect correlating lower disposition. reading was decreased absolutism, score conversely absolutism. Total print exposure multiplism, no significant association for fiction. evaluativism, nonfiction. Narrative transportation mediated some these relationships. These findings provide a basis further research into nonfiction,