A quantitative analysis of the impact of e-book format on student acceptance, usage and satisfaction.

摘要

This study examined the acceptance, usage, and satisfaction of electronic textbook (e-book) formats by students. The focus of this study was the application of the technology acceptance model (TAM) methodology, developed by Davis, identifying the preferred e-book format by higher education students, identifying preferred e-book format differences between students in generational age groups and identifying differences in preferred e-book formats between students attending in online and on-campus delivery methods. The research in this study was conducted at a higher educational institution to measure the students' perspective on the perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, usage and satisfaction of different e-book formats. The findings of this study indicate there are preferences for particular e-book formats by students with differences based on campus delivery method as well as by generational age groups. These findings validate the use of the TAM modified for this study and also provide the usage rates for each of the different e-book formats. These findings will assist educational institutions and educational publishers to make strategic and management decisions regarding the adoption of e-books. Future research is recommended on possible changes to e-book format preferences based on the changing ages of the student population and the use of portable hardware devices that could support the usage of e-books in an academic setting.