Technology and Textbooks: The Future

This article describes two separate studies: a survey of students’ textbook perceptions, purchases, and usage for e-textbooks and print textbooks and a conjoint analysis on e-textbook attributes. Print textbooks were perceived as easier to read, understand, and navigate, whereas e-textbooks were perceived to be cheaper. Students were willing to purchase e-textbooks, although most did not have e-readers. In the conjoint study, price was the most important attribute, followed by access to online study guides, videos, and quizzes and the duration of e-textbook accessibility. The ideal e-textbook was priced at 60% of the print textbook; was accessible for one year; and provided access to online study guides, videos, and quizzes.