Adoption Of E-books Research Articles

The Moderating Role of Reader Characteristics on E-Book Reading Intention in Thailand: A Multigroup Analysis

Purpose: This investigation explores the moderating role of reader characteristics in shaping individuals' intentions to engage in e-book reading in Thailand. Theoretical Framework: Drawing upon a diverse sample of readers in Thailand, this analysis employs advanced statistical techniques to assess the moderating effects of reader characteristics, including sex, age, education level, income, and devices used to read e-books. Design/methodology/approach: Utilizing a quantitative approach, the study analyzes responses from 701 Thai people who have engaged with a minimum of five e-books to understand the moderating role of reader characteristics on e-book reading intention in Thailand. Findings: The results from the structural equation model analysis showed that several factors in the proposed model had a significant influence on intention to read e-books. These factors include trust, diversity of e-book options, social norms, and resource usage. Practical implications: The results that come from this investigation contribute to the growing body of literature on digital reading behavior and offer practical implications for stakeholders in the publishing sector and government organizations that promote reading. By comprehending how reader characteristics moderate the factors influencing e-book reading intentions, tailored strategies can be developed to promote digital literacy and enhance the adoption of e-books in the Thai market. As the global landscape of reading continues to evolve, this research offers a precious viewpoint to explore the intricate interplay between individual characteristics and the digital reading experience in Thailand. Originality/value: Limited research has examined the moderating influence of reader characteristics on the intention to read e-books. Therefore, this study seeks to address this gap in the existing literature by conducting a multigroup analysis in the context of Thailand.

Convenient and worth the price? Identifying early users and predicting future use of book streaming services

The printed book has been resilient to change, and the adoption of e-books has been slow. In this context, few studies have addressed a potential turn to streaming services for books. This paper examines the adoption of book streaming in the Norwegian market, where the market-leaders Storytel and Fabel report rapid increases in number of subscribers. We examine who these early adopters are, and what may predict future use of streaming services among non-users. Theoretically, the study is situated within the fields of innovation diffusion and technology acceptance. The study is based on a cross-sectional online survey with a representative sample of the Norwegian population. Results show that users are younger and more educated, and that book streaming is more popular among women than men. The audiobook format allows for flexible ways of consuming books, complementing rather than replacing the printed book. For non-users, results show that convenience value and price value predict behavioural intention to use book streaming services. While emotional attachment to printed books has been found to act as a barrier for adoption of e-books, its negative effect on behavioural intention for book streaming services is only modest.

Teachers\u2019 adoption of an open and interactive e-book for teaching K-12 students Artificial Intelligence: a mixed methods inquiry

With the rapid development of information technology, e-books have become convenient for students to improve their learning performance, especially when learning complicated concepts. However, research showed that acceptance of e-books by teachers is fragmented, due to several factors including the e-book design. Therefore, this study combined the potential positive impacts of openness and interaction on learning to design an open and interactive e-book for teaching K-12 students AI. It then applied a mixed method to investigate the factors that affect teachers’ acceptance of this open and interactive e-book based on the technology acceptance model (TAM) and interviews. The obtained results showed that teachers’ intention to continue using this e-book is significantly influenced by their perceived usefulness and attitude towards this e-book. Additionally, both the interactive and openness features were very helpful for teachers in using this e-book in their teaching plans. However, some of them raised several concerns like the interactive coding platform should be personalized based on students’ age. The findings of this study could help different stakeholders (e.g., instructional designers, teachers, policymakers) in facilitating the design and adoption of open and interactive e-books.

Adoption of electronic books in a higher education setting: an exploratory case study based on Diffusion of Innovation and Garner’s Hype Cycle paradigms

The purpose of this research was to examine the status of library users' adoption of e-books in line with Rogers's Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory and Gartner’s Hype Cycle (GHC) Model in the context of Fiji National University (FNU). The FNU Library introduced e-books to its user community in 2014. Purposively chosen 40 undergraduate students from the College of Business, Hospitality and Tourism Studies were selected as the sample to conduct in-depth interviews. The study revealed that the participants' e-book adoption habits were primarily divided among early adopters, early majority, and late majority. The results disclosed many factors that influence the adoption of e-books, such as familiarity with the technology, personal taste, exposure to trial access, use of preferred access devices and enthusiasm for reading. Findings indicate that e-books adoption of university undergraduates in line with the DOI and GHC paradigms has substantiated how the underpinning theories could help interpret the adoption of e-books in teaching and learning environment. Thus, this research will help librarians and educators develop a robust mechanism for better understanding the inherent status-quo of e-book usage in higher education institutions. These research findings will also help develop strategies that can significantly enhance universities' traditional teaching and learning performance with emerging technologies.

How can governments nudge students to become ebook readers? Evidence from Indonesia

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate if and how government intervention can nudge students to become ebook readers.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 1,144 students from four middle and high schools in urban and rural areas of Indonesia participated in this study. The results from statistical analyses were further discussed through the lens of the nudge theory.FindingsThis paper founds evidence that government intervention in the form of the Buku Sekolah Elektronik (BSE) policy that has been providing free electronic textbooks for more than a decade can help nudge students to become ebook readers. After controlling for student’s demographic information, this paper founds that their awareness of such a policy is significantly associated with a stronger preference toward ebooks while having no significant effect on their preferences toward printed book format. This paper also founds that mobile device adoption plays an important role where early adopters tend to prefer ebook format, whereas laggards are more associated with printed book format.Originality/valueMany have studied the benefits of using ebooks in learning, but the literature also shows that most students still prefer reading printed books over ebooks. This is true not only in developing countries where problems with infrastructures can hamper the adoption of ebooks in general but also in developed countries where ebooks are much more prevalent, even among the general population. This paper showed how government interventions have the potency to help tip the scales and nudge students to become ebook readers.

Barriers to the Implementation of Electronic Textbooks in Rural and Township Schools in South Africa

The use of information and communications technology (ICT) is gradually increasing in South African schools. In the Gauteng province, the Department of Education has prioritised the provisioning of electronic textbooks (ebooks) to public schools since 2014. However, to this day, there seem to be multiple barriers that hamper the adoption and use of digital technologies, and specifically ebooks. This study was premised on the technology acceptance model, and a mixed-method approach was used with an online questionnaire and a semi-structured interview protocol as the data collection instruments. For the qualitative data, thematic analysis was used to identify themes and patterns. For the quantitative data, descriptive statistics, such as frequencies and percentages, and inferential statistics, such as the two-proportions z-test and the chi-square test of independence, were utilised. Results indicated that although portable electronic devices that facilitate the reading of ebooks are readily available at public schools in Gauteng, the availability and use of ebooks are still very limited. The results also show that the participants found digital resources easy to use and easy to navigate and indicated that teachers would like to have more training to fully develop the necessary skills required to implement the ebooks effectively. Teachers do not seem to have adequate time to prepare teaching materials and learning activities using these ebooks. In this article, the barriers to the successful implementation of ebooks are explored, and the article culminates in putting forward some guidelines to create an enabling environment to support the successful adoption of ebooks in schools.

Determinants of the Adoption Academic Electronic Books by University Students in a Developing Country

Higher education institutions worldwide are transitioning to electronic books which have become a standard platform in providing reading materials. This study investigated the determinants of the adoption of academic e-books by university students in Nigeria. Results showed that a majority of students were aware of electronic books but only 44.5% of students used them often. Despite the availability of these resources, more than 50% of students did not use e-books, also surprising was that majority of students discovered e-books from their lecturers. The study further revealed that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and facilitating conditions were major determinants in the adoption of e-books by undergraduate students. However, social influence and gender did play a significant role in the intention to adopt electronic books by undergraduate students. This study has practical implications on academic institutions and electronic book publishers in encouraging e-book use and improving e-book features to align with the needs of the millennial students and also providing reliable internet facilities and improving lecturer and institutional support in driving e-book adoption by undergraduate students.

Why digital goods have not replaced traditional goods: the case of e-books

PurposeElectronic books (e-books) have been in the market for decades but have been unable to replace paper books. Previous studies on e-books have failed to identify significant factors affecting the adoption and diffusion of e-books. This study develops a theoretical framework to explain the adoption behavior of e-books from the perspective of user resistance.Design/methodology/approachAfter a pilot test with 50 e-book users, the research model is validated using a partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique. A web-based survey method is used to collect data from a sample of 350 people – selected from Korean e-book users and nonusers – during a week in March 2017. This study tests the reliability and validity of the integrated model of planned behavior and resistance theory and tests the hypotheses with bootstrapping resampling.FindingsThe results show that four barriers – usage, value, risk and image – cause resistance to change and users with higher resistance have lower intention to use. The moderating effect of self-efficacy between resistance to change and intention to use is confirmed. Self-efficacy interacts not only with the encouraging factors but also with resistance.Originality/valueThis study expands the understanding of users' adoption behavior of e-books by examining inhibiting factors using a novel integrated model. The findings of this research provide insights for digital product providers, especially e-book publishers, to understand why digital products have not been successful in the marketplace.

Transition to eBook Provision: A Commentary on the Preferences and Adoption of eBooks by Chemistry Undergraduates

When the word textbook is used, the common image in our minds is that of a physical book, but textbook provision has been impacted by the revolution in digital technology. eBooks are now commonplace in higher education with many university libraries moving to an “e-first” policy. The attitudes of chemistry undergraduates to printed and digital texts were explored using survey data and library analytics. Results suggest that chemistry students have not fully embraced the use of ebooks in their reading, and departments and institutions moving to an e-first policy may benefit from designing class activities which expose students to the ebook service early in their undergraduate programmes.

“Ebooks for the Classroom+” at University of South Florida Libraries: A Case Study of Database Management

The University of South Florida Libraries has supported a campus-wide “Textbook Affordability Project” initiative by creating and maintaining an ebooks database called “Ebooks for the Classroom+.” This database facilitates faculty members’ adoption of ebooks as textbooks through library acquisitions in the hope that students can achieve academic success without paying for expensive textbooks. It is built and run by the library, using data based on vendor-supplied information. This paper discusses the approaches, the challenges, and the future plans for building and updating the database.

What Drives E-Book Use: A Comparative Study of Paper-Based Books and E-Books in Japan

The objective of this paper is to examine the reasons for adoption of e-books using the extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology2 (UTAUT2) and two additional constructs - ＂long-tail effect＂ and ＂trust.＂ To achieve this goal, the authors conducted a comparative study in Japan of e-book and paper-based book purchases through online channels. The paper-based book is a physical product, whereas the e-book is a digital one. This study found some differences in the reasons for user adoption of these two products. The differences reveal the importance of external market situations, industry standards, and the inherent characteristics of the products as factors affecting the motivations for adoption of one product or the other. The construct ＂trust＂ was found to have a significant relationship to the intention to use both types of products, whereas ＂long-tail effect＂ was found to have a significant relationship to the intention to use paper-based books. On the other hand, the ＂price value＂ construct of UTAUT2 was found to have a significant relationship for e-books, but was not found to have a significant relationship for paper-based books purchased through online channels. It is proposed that future research include the relationship of both ＂long-tail effect＂ and ＂trust＂ constructs to the existing UTAUT2 research framework.

Adoption of Technology for Reading Purposes: A Study of E-Books Acceptance

This study aims to verify the acceptance of e-books by identifying the effects of the variables Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, Facilitating Conditions, Habit, Price Value, and Hedonic Motivation, moderated by Age, Gender and Experience on the intention of use and actual use of this technology. To verify the effects of the relations between these variables, we applied the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 model (VENKATESH; THONG; XU, 2012). Out of a universe of 118,456 Brazilian citizens directly involved with education, 1,013 completed an online survey. We analyzed the data via structural equations modeling; we obtained generalized least squares and standard errors via resampling (Jackknife). The study concludes that Habit, Effort Expectancy and Facilitating Conditions are important for the adoption of e-books, and that Age, Gender and Experience are crucial moderators of these relations.

Movable text

During the early adoption of e-books, this unfamiliar digital format was made more palatable through analogy to the printed book. Texts were divided into ‘pages’ that could turn on screen, and e-book repositories were referred to as ‘libraries’. However, as digital texts have increasingly taken on characteristics of digital systems, the metaphor of the printed book has lost currency. Given the limitations of this conventional metaphor for the digital text, I propose an alternative conception, one that is as archaic in origin as the printed-book metaphor, yet surprisingly robust for describing the customizable texts of today’s Academy: the metaphor of movable text. The image derives from German printer Johannes Gutenberg’s 15th-century innovation for the mass production of books, a mechanical system that used paper, ink and the relatively cheap and reusable display of cubed, metal letters that could be arranged and rearranged into words on a tray ready to be pressed into print. This metaphor of book-as-movable text is useful in that it captures how the form of the academic textbook is now entangled with its process, as much as its context. But, how does this metaphor apply to the academic text in particular? If a movable academic book asks to be interpreted, does the mobility of meaning that it creates defy such interpretative engagement? In this article, I argue that when automated texts are effectively scaffolded by cultural critiques, they can support deep research processes. To become more effective, these searches demand focus as much as evaluation and thus drive towards the crafts of collation, synthesis and eventual reconfiguration.

Criteria for adoption of e-books in libraries in the context of the paradigm of cloud computing

PurposeThis paper aims to propose criteria and indicators for the adoption of e-books in libraries in the context of the cloud computing paradigm.Design/methodology/approachThis paper carried out bibliographical and documentary research and the application of a questionnaire. Sampling focused on five library managers and five e-book vendor managers.FindingsA proposal is presented containing a set of three criteria and their respective indicators. The technology platform criterion consists of seven indicators: patron data privacy, patron data security, availability of services, accessibility of information in e-books, interoperability of the technology platform, digital preservation and portability of e-books. The criterion for the acquisition of e-books involves three indicators: forms of commercialization, acquisition models and selection of e-book titles. The criterion for the circulation of e-books is divided into two indicators: unlimited and limited use. In the unlimited use mode, there are no limits on the use of e-books. In limited use, there are 11 levels of permissions: available copies, number of loans under each license, duration of the license, interlibrary loan, reading only in digital format, reading online via streaming only, download on the patron’s device, content printing, loan according to the patron’s identity, reservation services and renewal services.Practical implicationsThis paper provides a set of criteria and indicators that can aid in the construction of policies and the development of collections, programs and projects directed toward the use of e-books in libraries.Originality/valueThis paper contributes socially by presenting a proposal that can support policies of evaluation and development of collections, projects, programs and actions around the adoption of e-books in different types of libraries.

Embracing ebooks: Acquisition and collection development landscape in Philippine academic libraries

In the recent years, libraries are evidently expanding their embrace in adoption of ebooks. This may be attributed to the real and perceived advantages demonstrated by ebooks in terms of accessibility, functionality and cost effectiveness. Increasingly, ebooks form a growing part of the collections in academic libraries as a viable format to support the information needs of their patrons. Some libraries have adopted ebooks on a large scale while others are still tentative in their acquisitions. This study aims to examine the current status of collection build-up of ebooks in different academic libraries in Metro Manila. Specifically, it will look at the extent by which they collect and acquire ebooks as well as the issues being faced by the libraries in their efforts to build their ebook collection. This paper employs a survey method to determine the collection size, selection models, methods of acquisition, budget allocation, collection development policy and other related items. The results of the study will provide an overview of the extent of ebook adoption among the academic libraries in the Philippines. It will also serve as a basis for proposing possible solutions to common issues that confronts the libraries of today concerning integrating ebooks in the collection. Lastly, the findings may also serve as a benchmark for best practices for other libraries.

Investigating the determinants of e-book adoption

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the key factors that affect users’ adoption of e-books using an extension of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) that includes the following factors: environmental concerns, perceived benefits, and benevolence trust.Design/methodology/approachThe authors analyzed survey responses from 343 participants using structural equation modeling to examine the hypothesized relationships in this research model.FindingsThe results show that users’ adoption of e-books is determined by performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, environmental concern, perceived benefit, and benevolence trust.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors restricted this study to consumers’ adoption of e-books. Further studies could examine consumer’s adoption of other mediums, such as cutting-edge information technologies.Practical implicationsThe results suggest that marketers should consider altering their methods of promoting e-books to attract consumers and further affect their usage intention.Originality/valueThis study proposes and tests an extended UTAUT model that includes the additional factors of environmental concern, perceived benefit, and benevolence trust in order to examine the influence of these factors on e-book adoption. The findings are particularly useful for assisting managers to increase e-book adoption.

E-books usage by agricultural, engineering and social science students in selected universities of Pakistan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to compare the usage patterns of e-books among the students of social, agricultural, and engineering sciences; demonstrate how e-books are used by students for various purposes; explore the main reasons for using e-books; and uncover the major issues being encountered by students while using e-books in Pakistani Universities. Design/methodology/approach During May to July 2014, a convenient sample technique was adopted, and a close-ended questionnaire was used as a survey tool for 300 graduates (BSc honor) and postgraduate (masters and MS) students in the age group of 21-60 years. In this study, the respondents’ gender, age, educational level and major disciplines were individual contextual variables. The data collection process was successfully completed with a 100 per cent response rate. SPSS-19 was utilized for testing the reliability of the instrument, as well as descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-square test). Findings The results show that the adoption of e-books has reached a level where they have become an integral component of academic library services. The results of this study verify the previous findings that the students are relying on e-book adoption for various academic and research purposes. Comparatively, male students, postgraduate students and those between the ages of 21 and 40 years are more frequently e-book users. In addition, the percentage of e-book readership among engineering students on a “daily basis” is greater than the students of agricultural and social sciences. They prefer reading e-books because of the following reasons: to support research endeavors and improve academic performance; and the e-format is quick to read and easy to manage. Insufficient e-contents, lack of personal computers and the variety of e-book formats are the major constraints in the effective utilization of e-books for learning, education and research needs. The study has concluded that e-books have a key role in the set-up of academic libraries and information resources in Pakistan, though further development of e-book readership capabilities and building of e-book collections are required to support users’ needs, and a parallel investigation into their most effective usage is also required. Originality/value This empirical research is a first and unique study that systematically and quantitatively compares the relationship between respondents’ e-books usage with their individual contextual variables in the perspective of academic libraries in Pakistan.

EBL ebook use compared to the use of equivalent print books and other eresources

Purpose – This paper, a case study with research implications, analyzes ebook use and users, focusing on ProQuest’s Electronic Book Library (EBL) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The purpose of this paper is to understand ebook user attributes and behaviors in the context of print books and other eresources; to examine usage of EBL ebooks and print materials; and to explore differences between users of ebooks and print books. Design/methodology/approach – The methodologies of the study are MINES for Libraries® implemented through EZproxy and an analysis of users and usage of EBL ebooks compared to print books based in part on the set of books available to the UMass community in both formats. Findings – Undergraduates use print more often compared to graduate and faculty users. Among all uses of overlap materials in which materials are available in both formats, EBL and print, we find more print use. In all, 40 percent of EBL users did not check out any print library books, which would indicate that EBL created new users and new circulation that would not have otherwise occurred in print. Further, the findings show little difference by gender and ethnicity in the use of ebooks and print books and little evidence of lagging adoption of ebooks by faculty. When compared to campus-wide demographics, women and students of color use both print and ebooks in higher than expected rates. Originality/value – Subject analysis of ebooks and print book usage and users by school or college are explored, highlighting differences between the two formats in certain subjects.

University Students Awareness, Usage and Attitude Towards E-books: Experience from China

The purpose of this study was to investigate students' awareness, usage and attitude towards e-books at the Zhejiang University in China. The research design was quantitative using a convenience sampling method and chi-square analyses were employed. Library staff responsible for digital resources collection had been interviewed. Results indicated that there was a significant difference of students' awareness and usage of general e-books and academic e-books. There was a higher awareness but lower adoption of general e-books. The awareness and level of usage of library provided e-books were both very low. A search engine was generally used to access e-books. Senior undergraduates and postgraduate students mainly accessed e-books from the library website and library catalog. Students, particularly undergraduate students, used e-books mainly for the purpose of leisure. In contrast, postgraduate students tended to use e-books more for academic purposes. The use of mobile devices and computers was preferred when reading e-books; but for academic e-books students preferred print part of them for reading. University students showed strong preference for printing books. Academic libraries should put more efforts on promotion, stimulating demands, and cooperation with teachers to improve e-books usage.

Attitudes Toward E-Books Among Visual Arts Faculty and Students

AbstractSeveral studies have recently shown a general resistance among art historians toward the adoption of e-books. Are these user attitudes the same among other visual arts faculty and students? In this study the authors use a mixed-methods technique known as Q methodology to isolate and explore distinct opinion types about e-books among visual arts users as a whole. By exposing different viewpoints on e-books and including users in fields such as design, architecture, interior design, planning, and fine arts in addition to art history, this article provides a more nuanced understanding of faculty and student attitudes than previous studies have done.