Practically the same : A study about students’ information practices when using print and digital book formats

Students' usage of print versus e-book formats has been a subject of interest for research since the e-book started gaining popularity. These studies tend to emphasise student preferences and the reasons behind them which has led to a fairly well explored subject around the world. However, less emphasis is put on students’ information practices when using these formats. This master’s thesis aims to add to the knowledge about the information practices of university students when using course literature in print versus e-book formats. To do this, semistructured interviews through Zoom were conducted with eight students. With practice theory as the theoretical lens, qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the material. The results shows that easy access to course literature is a main factor when choosing format, which indicates that preferences does not necessarily solely shape the information practice. E-books are used extensively by the students for easy access, even though there is a clear overall preference for print. The print format however seems to be providing a better overview of the whole book that favours the search process. The students also describe a feeling of deeper connection with print books and these are therefore used to understand complex texts, as well as when the students better want to remember what they have read. However, information practices described in regards to the e-book is not portrayed as a bad alternative. Rather, it is described as fitting for information practices that require shallower information processing.