Student attitudes to e-books


What is the truth behind student attitudes to e-and print books?  A report first published last year (by eTextbook provider CourseSmart in collaboration with Wakefield Research) and receiving some attention recently in a number of blogs, suggests that students are ‘technologically dependent'.85% of the 500 students surveyed reported that technology saved them time when studying.  63% of students who owned a device said they had read an e-text book this way at least once - and 46% said they would be more likely to complete their reading if it was in a digital format.  61% said that e-books are easier to search.A more recent study in the US (by the Pearson Foundation and Harris Interactive) found that tablet ownership amongst students was rising dramatically.  The survey found that more students are reading digital texts and that 63% of college students believe that tablets will replace textbooks within five years.Meanwhile, a BML survey of UK undergraduates also found that the majority of students are now using e-books and online journal use is increasing but that printed books remain the most used resource.  48% of students are using the library to access printed books and 38% are borrowing e-books from the library.  Only 9% are buying e-books and price remains an issue.