information about college students’ perceptions towards both in-print and digital text, as well as
how that information relates to the students’ letter grades in courses corresponding with
particular types of texts. The type of survey used in this study was a descriptive survey, as its
purpose was to gather information about a particular sample at one point in time and then use
that information to draw conclusions (Kelly, Clark, Brown & Sitzia, 2003).
As the purpose of this study was to efficiently gather and analyze information from a
specific demographic of participants, a survey design was the most appropriate to use. A study
of the survey research design supports using a survey design in trying to collect specific
information from a sample population at one given point in time (Kelley, Clark, Brown & Sitzia,
2003). The use of this type of study allowed information to be gathered without tampering with
or influencing any characteristic of the sample group. It allowed the researcher to gather data
based on pre-existing qualities, and use that data to determine a conclusion or relationship. This
type of study was necessary in accurately and efficiently determining a relationship between the
type of textbooks already being used by college students in a particular course (in-print or
digital), and the academic success of those students in those courses.