The initial survey question, designed to identify e-book users versus non-users, indicated 58% of the respondents identified themselves as using e-books in their academic work. These respondents were then asked, “When doing your academic work, do you generally prefer print books or e-books?”
Undergraduate students indicated the highest preference for print books, followed by graduate students, faculty and lecturers, and postdoctoral researchers. A possible factor influencing the preference for print books expressed by undergraduates is the challenge of reading online for long periods of time. Many undergraduate respondents commented on the difficulty they have learning, retaining, and concentrating while in front of a computer.