English abstract
The study aims to reveal the social factors that have an impact on the attitudes of the
undergraduate Students at the University of Sultan Qaboos towards free voluntary or recreational
reading. In addition, it aims to identify the most popular free voluntary reading topics and sources
among these students and the obstacles they face and negatively affect their free voluntary
readings. To achieve the above-stated objectives of the study using the descriptive method, a self administered questionnaire, consisting of (70) items, it was carried out on a sample of (2.3%) of
the research community, which is undergraduate students at the university during the spring
semester 2022. The sample was selected using a convenience non-probability sampling according
to what is available to the researcher. The data were entered into the Statistical Package for Social
Sciences and the appropriate descriptive analytical methods were extracted. The theory of Pierre
Bourdieu was also relied upon as a theoretical guide through which the content of the study and
the interpretation of the results were understood. The main findings were as follows. The most
important family-related social factors, which have an impact on the attitudes towards free voluntary
reading among the undergraduate students, are the good example set by their family-members'
interest in free voluntary reading, and then the encouragement that they receive from these family
members to practice free voluntary reading. As for the social factors relating to the university
environment, the access to modern technology that gives assistance to students and the borrowing
facilities at the university libraries were emphasized, in addition to certain programs and activities
on free voluntary reading. The findings also showed that all undergraduate students at the
University of Sultan Qaboos have positive attitudes towards free voluntary reading. The most
popular reading topics include the literary texts with the highest rate of reading among students,
followed by the health-related and then religious texts. As to reading sources, the Internet ranked
first with a rate of (87%) of the sample. The heavy load of academic assignments came to the fore
at a high rate of (91%) the sample regarding the obstacles hindering the free voluntary reading
among students. This study suggested a set of proposals, including: conducting joint reading
sessions between students and professors at the university, holding a periodic exhibition of books
at the university, in addition to holding periodic competitions among undergraduate students,
organizing seminars and workshops related to the development of reading for students, as well as
changing the method of education based on memorization and repetition of information.
