Insert Image Here EBOOKS BREAK THROUGH(?) Student’s information sources in the digital world, 2013 Jo Henry, Director Bowker Market Research APS Conference, 14 th March 2013

Session outline Survey methodology Student satisfaction Study activities Study resources Sources used Spending Devices Ebooks and VLEs A view from the States Conclusions

Survey methodology Online survey 1,000 students December 2012, repeating survey in December 2011 Even numbers by sex, year, subject groups: Arts & Humanities (AH) Business & Management (BM) Law Medicine Science & Technology (ST) Social Sciences (SS)

Student satisfaction

Most (85%) ‘really wanted to study’ the course they were on Most (79%) say course will give them ‘right skills for job’ Source: Student’s information sources in the digital world, Bowker, 2013

Study activities

Base: All Source: Student’s information sources in the digital world, Bowker, 2013

Base: All Source: Student’s information sources in the digital world, Bowker, 2013

Study resources

Source: Student’s information sources in the digital world, Bowker, 2013

Sources used

Base: All using relevant resource Source: Student’s information sources in the digital world, Bowker, 2013

BUT….. Drop in number of students buying new printed books: 65% down from 73% in 2011/12 Source: Student’s information sources in the digital world, Bowker, 2013

Base: All using relevant resource Source: Student’s information sources in the digital world, Bowker, 2013

Spending

Average spend on new printed books down ……from £96 to £91 And average spend on second-hand books up ……from £34 to £41 Source: Student’s information sources in the digital world, Bowker, 2013

Total spend (all resources) £110 per buyer… …down from £115 in 2011 Source: Student’s information sources in the digital world, Bowker, 2013

Devices used

Base: All using ebooks/downloading online resources Source: Student’s information sources in the digital world, Bowker, 2013

Bases: All using ebooks (2011) : All using ebooks/downloading online resources (2012) Source: Student’s information sources in the digital world, Bowker, 2013

Bases: All using ebooks (2011) : All using ebooks/downloading online resources (2012) Source: Student’s information sources in the digital world, Bowker, 2013

Ebooks and VLEs

Which groups are using VLEs – and which aren’t? Source: Student’s information sources in the digital world, Bowker, 2013

Where are ebooks getting the most – and least - traction? Source: Student’s information sources in the digital world, Bowker, 2013

Why do students like ebooks – and why don’t they? Pros: Cons: Annotating/highlighting/making notes Reading Navigating, finding index Illustrations Source: Student’s information sources in the digital world, Bowker, 2013

A view from the States

BISG/Bowker bi-annual student survey in US: 1,600 students each time Good representation across types of school, year of course Latest fielding October-November 2012 Results available as Student Attitudes towards Content in Higher Education Source: Student Attitudes towards Content in Higher Education – BISG and Bowker

Some interesting (and some similar) trends: Drop to 60% (from 72% in November 2011) of students preferring print over digital texts BUT only 26% said they were “very satisfied” with their digital text, down from 30% in Most students have PCs, though ownership of tablets doubled in 2012 to 12% BUT only 2-3% use tablet as their primary device for studying In 2012, use of ILSs rose 39% ; now used by 14% of students Source: Student Attitudes towards Content in Higher Education – BISG and Bowker

Conclusions…. High levels of satisfaction with course – but not core texts? Traditional study methods still predominate But – an online revolution is taking place Although this is more noticeable in particular sectors than across the board Decline in buying of new books – and spending on resources overall More access to free/borrowed PCs predominate device use – but tablets use growing Some significant issues with etextbooks And some similar trends in the US too….

Students’ Information Sources in the Digital World: December 2013 now available from Bowker; includes detailed key findings section from Linda Bennett to contextualize the information plus: Attitudes to course Study resources used: variations by type of course Study behaviour/activities Finding out about and acquiring resources: variations by type of course Purchasing of each type of resources by course and year* Purchasing of core/recommended/other, by course and year* Average price paid for each type of resource. by type of course Value for money of core/recommended resources by type of course, sex, year and type of university Importance of features in which resource to buy Free downloading of ebooks Devices used to read ebooks Print vs. ebook benefits Pricing of ebooks Additional digital study resources required Use of social media in study How lecturers recommend core texts Interest in methods of accessing study resources *includes % who buy and estimates of maximum number bought, average number per student, maximum spent, average spend per buyer, average spend per student Full report contents 33

34 Copy of these slides available from Jo Henry Bowker Market Research St Andrew Street London EC4A 3AG Thank you!