Citation
(2003), "College students give e-Books mixed reviews", Interlending & Document Supply, Vol. 31 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ilds.2003.12231aab.031
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2003, MCB UP Limited
College students give e-Books mixed reviews
College students give e-Books mixed reviews
More scepticism on the eBook front – see also the Literature Review in this issue:
"In a study on learning and the usability of electronic books (compared to printed books), the Center for Information and Communication Studies at Ball State University found little difference in test results among students who used two styles of GemStar eBooks and those who used traditional text books. Still, 100 per cent of students who used the black and white style eBooks and 50 per cent of those who used color eBooks said they would not recommend their use to others. Students found such tasks as moving from page to page, finding a specific chapter in the text and searching for a certain word too tedious to pursue. Other mechanical difficulties were related to the small, irregularly shaped screens and incidences of glare on the screens. In addition, users perceived that they retained less information than they would have had they read from a conventional paper textbook. In spite of the general negative perception, the researchers concluded that eBooks – especially color versions – have some potential as a device for college students, once further studies and refinements have been made." (Ball State University, 23 August 2002, available at: http://publish.bsu.edu/cics/ebook_final_result.asp)
Source: Shelflife, No. 70, 5 September 2002.