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Buying online: textbooks versus books
1Department of Economics & International Business, Bennett S. Lebow College of Business, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Psychological Reports
|January 26, 2005
Summary
Student purchasing behaviors for academic textbooks differ from those for other book types. Understanding these distinct predictors is key for educational resource accessibility.
Area of Science:
- Social Sciences
- Educational Research
- Consumer Behavior
Background:
- College and university students represent a significant consumer group for academic and leisure reading materials.
- Previous research has often grouped all book purchases together, potentially masking unique drivers for different book categories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and differentiate the key predictors influencing college and university students' purchasing decisions for textbooks versus other types of books.
- To provide insights into student consumer behavior within the academic and general book markets.
Main Methods:
- Utilized survey data from a diverse sample of college and university students.
- Employed statistical analysis to identify significant factors associated with textbook purchases.
- Applied comparative analysis to distinguish predictors for non-textbook book purchases.
Main Results:
- Factors such as course requirements and price sensitivity were primary drivers for textbook acquisition.
- Leisure reading motivations, genre preference, and peer recommendations significantly influenced the purchase of non-textbook books.
- Distinct predictor sets were identified for each book category.
Conclusions:
- Student purchasing behavior is not monolithic; textbook acquisition is largely necessity-driven, while other book purchases are influenced by personal interest and social factors.
- Educational institutions and booksellers should consider these divergent factors when developing strategies for resource availability and student engagement.