New research results released by BISG (The Book Industry Study Group) suggests college students prefer their textbooks in print rather than as ebooks:
Despite their fondness for social networking and cell phones, most college students say they prefer textbooks in printed rather than e-text form. Nearly 75% of students to recently respond to a major new research survey from the Book Industry Study Group (BISG) said they prefer printed texts, citing a fondness for print’s look and feel, as well as its permanence and ability to be resold.
OK. Interesting, although I would like to see the details. “Most college students” sounds like they must have asked all of them, which is unlikely. Just how big was the sample size? Well, you’d have to buy the report to find out.
Anyway, when you’re talking about text books, I would suggest that “print’s look and feel” should be rather secondary to understanding the subject. Anything that helps a student get through their reading faster should be paramount.
“Permanence and resale” ought also to be irrelevant. Permanence certainly is of secondary value to students, because once they know the subject they should no longer need the text. How many students, if they were all honest, really every refer again to last year’s texts? And resale value is only relevant because of the outrageous prices publishers charge. Not to mention the common problem of publishers killing the resale value by producing new editions.
The press release goes on to say:
College students are an exceptionally dynamic demographic, making the technology transformation underway within the higher ed market very hard to plot.
OK. Does this not somewhat diminish the value of the study? If next year’s cohort of students are going to have significantly changed attitudes to this year’s, then how is the current survey going to be of any value in predicting trends or determining future policies.
But, let us take heart from the fact that 25% of college students either prefer ebooks, or don’t care either way. Let the revolution commence!
via BISG Press Release | College Students Want Their Textbooks the Old-Fashioned Way: In Print.
