Survey for Class!

[AXiDMeesh]

Thanks to all of those who responded and took the survey!!

Also, these were the results if you were interested in knowing them:

1. Do you think that printed educational materials (i.e. books, magazines) should be converted into e-reader format?
Yes: 61%
No: 34.1%
I Don't Know: 4.9%

2. Do you prefer to have physical or electronic materials?
Physical: 60%
Electronic: 5%
No Preference: 27.5%
I Don't Know: 7.5%

3. Would you be willing to buy an e-reading device (Kindle etc.) for educational purposes?
Yes: 39%
No: 39%
I Don't Know: 22%

4. Would you be willing to pay for your textbooks in e-reading format?
Yes: 48.8%
No: 31.7%
I don't know: 19.5%

5. Would you be willing to pay for your textbooks in e-reading format if you had to pay full price but could only keep them for the academic term?
Yes: 0%
No: 95.1%
I Don't Know: 4.9%

6. Are you currently
In High School: 0%
In College or Grad School: 65.9%
Not in High School or College: 34.1%

I find it really interesting that the majority of people who took this prefer printed materials, but thinks the electronic conversion should be made. Any thoughts on that?

[RaggedyAnn]

Originally Posted by AXiDMeesh

I find it really interesting that the majority of people who took this prefer printed materials, but thinks the electronic conversion should be made. Any thoughts on that?

I think it's the struggle of being environmentally friendly versus really wanting the textbook. Thanks for posting the results.

[SydneyK]

Originally Posted by AXiDMeesh

I find it really interesting that the majority of people who took this prefer printed materials, but thinks the electronic conversion should be made. Any thoughts on that?

It could be several things. One, it's always nice to have a choice. Even if one of the choices is something we wouldn't choose, it feels good to feel like we have a say. Two, electronic reading material that has the capability to be printed essentially allows people to have the best of both worlds (they can make notes/markings in their printed copy, and they can have the convenience/space-saving/ecofriendly/etc. benefits of the e copy).

I would be even more interested to know if there are specific courses/subjects that people would be more supportive of ebooks. For instance, when I was an undergrad, I would've jumped at the chance to have ebooks for my general education classes. I had one psychology class, the book was huge and costly, and I would definitely have preferred an ebook. (It obviously wasn't a choice all those years ago, but still.) For a course in my field, however, I probably wouldn't have wanted an ebook.

Thanks for posting the results!