Submitted: The Two Sides Team September 9, 2015
Despite the prevalence of ebooks and reading devices, college students overwhelmingly prefer print textbooks for studying, according to a survey conducted by Direct Textbook
PORTLAND, Ore., Sept. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Seven out of ten college students prefer print textbooks over ebooks, according to a survey conducted by Direct Textbook, the world's most comprehensive textbook price comparison engine.
More than 500 active college students completed the survey, which was emailed to Direct Textbook users. Results include:
Students who prefer print textbooks commonly cited the following reasons:
Students who prefer ebooks commonly cited the following reasons:
In addition, several respondents said they preferred ebooks for recreational reading but not for academic learning.
Textbook purchasing trends align with the survey results. According to the Student Monitor, 87 percent of textbooks purchased by students in 2014 were print editions (36 percent new, 36 percent used, 15 percent rented). Ebooks comprised only nine percent of the market. The remaining four percent was made up by file sharing.
"Given the ubiquity of ebook-reading devices on college campuses, it's interesting that students prefer print textbooks over ebooks, and that purchasing behavior supports that sentiment," said Morgan MacArthur, Direct Textbook Chief Technology Officer. "What's even more interesting are the differences in perception: both students who preferred textbooks and those who preferred ebooks cited lower prices as a reason.
"Sometimes print textbooks are cheaper, sometimes ebooks are. That's why Direct Textbook finds the lowest prices for both. The average student will spend $5,000 on textbooks to earn a four-year degree, so it's important to compare all options so we can help them save up to 90 percent of that cost."
Since 2002, more than 20 million students and parents have trusted Direct Textbook to help them save up to 90 percent on college textbooks. As the world's most comprehensive textbook price comparison engine, Direct Textbook helps students get the best deals on new, used and alternative textbooks by instantly comparing prices from more than 200 online stores.
For more information, visit http://www.directtextbook.com.