Adoption of e-Book Readers Among College Students

Nicole J. Hoback

Reference:

Foasbert, N. M. (2011). Adoption of e-Book Readers among College Students: A

            Survey. Information Technology & Libraries. 30(3), 108-128.

Summary:

In the article “Adoption of e-Book Readers among College Students,” discusses the 2011 college student survey from the urban, four-year public college, Queens College, on varying aspects concerning e-Books and e-Readers. 1,705 students participated in the survey and showed positives about e-Readers and e-Books, but not all were so enthusiastic. The main analysis of the survey was to understand who owns e-Readers and how do they use these tablets. In a 2010 a survey conducted by the Pew Internet and American Life, found that only 5% of Americans owned an e-Readers. At the time Amazon and Barnes and Noble e-Readers were around $300. While this seems hard to imagine, now that one can purchase an Amazon Kindle Fire for as low as $49.99. Of the students who participated in the survey, 401 students stated that they use e-Books, but not on an e-Reader. Price was the largest obstacle as to why the students were not willing to purchase an e-Reader, but acknowledged that if the library were to purchase e-Readers that they would check one out. This survey not only gives an insight into the students feelings about e-Readers, but also how even a few years of technology development can change the once foreign e-Reader into a popular student option.

Evaluation:

While I found this survey very useful, it also is a testament to how quickly technology development and opinions of these technologies can change. Since the survey indicated that the price of e-Readers was the biggest deterrent from purchasing one, I would like to think that the purchase of these devices has been on the rise since the dramatic drop in price, since this interview was conducted. I think that reading older surveys, especially those based on technology, are great to reference when seeing how technology has changed and developed, but it is important to understand that changes in technology have changed and evolved since 2011, when the survey was conducted.