The Book Industry Study Group (BISG) recently conducted the 'Faculty Attitudes Toward Content in Higher Education', a survey of college faculty perceptions toward classroom materials. The survey found that professors continue to equate their own and their students' successes in the classroom to the use of materials such as textbooks, and most prefer print formats.
Led by the BISG and powered by Bowker Market Research, the survey reveals that 93 percent of faculty feel students who use required course materials receive higher grades in class. An even higher percentage feels that the use of these materials by students enables professors to be more effective teachers.
'Faculty Attitudes Toward Content in Higher Education' is a companion to BISG's "Student Attitudes Toward Content in Higher Education", which provides a counterpoint to the new study. Results from these studies show that print continues to be the dominant format made available by faculty, as well as the format most often selected by students. While 32 percent of faculty said they make e-book options available, only 2 percent of students select them as the primary way to access content.
Comparing results from the two studies shows that faculty are lagging slightly behind students in fondness for e-texts: 12 percent of faculty prefer this emerging format to print, while 16 percent of students prefer 'e' to 'p.' Of faculty members who have already adopted an e-textbook (20 percent), 90 percent are pleased with the results and say they will likely adopt an e-text in the future. Faculty who have not yet adopted an e-textbook provide several reasons for preferring print: ease of bookmarking, higher levels of engagement, preference for the look and feel of print, and students' lack of devices for viewing e-textbooks.
'Faculty Attitudes Toward Content in Higher Education' also provides insight into the textbook selection process faculty employ. More than half of faculty surveyed (57 percent) indicated that textbook selections were based on individual choice. More than three-quarters prefer materials with which they already have experience and most hesitate to adopt a new edition until necessary. Further, 60 percent are heeding student concerns about the expense of texts and prefer materials that are available at a low cost to students. The same percentage advice students on where to find required course materials, but only 30 percent believe that bookstores are providing adequate information about format and price options for students.
Findings from 'Faculty Attitudes Toward Content in Higher Education' came from an online survey of college professors and administrators, drawn from a nationally representative panel. To ensure the survey questions explored the appropriate trends and issues, they were developed in partnership with publishers and other companies working in the higher education market place.
