College students use a variety of different media to learn information for their classes, such as journal articles, eBooks, and digital resources. Previous studies have found that students like to have easy-to-access learning materials. When looking specifically at eBooks and printed books, Yau and Cheng (2012) found that most subjects preferred to use eBooks for their education and preferred print books for leisure reading. In the present study, students were asked how they use technology for academic and leisure reading. Sixty-four subjects completed a survey that asked questions about journal articles, textbooks, books for pleasure, and digital learning resources. Preliminary results indicated that the majority of subjects preferred reading from physical textbooks and books, as opposed to eBooks, but preferred digital formats for reading journal articles. One potential reason for preferring digital sources only for journal articles might be their shorter length relative to books. This research can benefit students and faculty by elucidating the learning materials that students find most conducive for different sorts of readings.

It’s in the Smell: Hardcopy Versus Digital Tools for Reading