College Students Want Their Textbooks the Old-Fashioned Way: In Print

Additional findings include:

• Students love a bargain. Survey respondents said they often buy previous editions of a textbook (16% did this for their current class ) or international versions (18% did this at least once).

• Piracy is pervasive. More than 40% of survey respondents said they bought a textbook from a pirate website, or know others who have. In addition, many respondents reported copying their friends' textbooks.

• Some learning tools have high value. Print study guides, Campus Learning Management Systems—such as Blackboard and WebCT - and diagnostic self-tests held high value for survey respondents.

• And some learning tools have low value. Online tutoring, audio study guides and "clickers" used in the classroom by instructors held low value for survey respondents.

Data from this benchmark survey will be presented at BISG's February 9, 2011 event: What College Students Think: Making Information Pay for Higher Ed Publishing. Early bird registration for this inaugural publishing industry event has been extended until Friday, January 14, 2011. More information, and a link to registration, is available at http://www.bisg.org/events-0-615-mip-for-higher-ed-publishing.php.

"As with every part of the publishing industry, the college textbook market is undergoing exponential change," said Kelly Gallagher, Vice President of Publishing Services at Bowker. "Trying to keep up with, let alone stay ahead of what students expect and need related to an enriched learning experience will continue to pay big dividends to those taking the time to understand this ever changing market."

The findings from Student Attitudes Toward Content in Higher Education come from a semi-annual online survey of college students, drawn from a nationally representative panel. To ensure the survey questions explored the appropriate trends and issues, they were developed in partnership with a variety of publishers and other companies working in the higher ed market place. In addition to the core question set, survey sponsors and other interested parties can submit proprietary questions to supplement the core fieldings. Those interested in submitting proprietary questions should contact Angela Bole in the BISG office at 646-336-7141 x13 or angela@bisg.org.