Date of Award

1-1-2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Specialization

Communication and Leadership

School or Department

School of Leadership Studies

First Advisor

Dr. Heather Crandall

Second Advisor

Dr. Kristina Morehouse

Abstract

Electronic books, otherwise known as e-books, are becoming increasingly popular in today’s technologically advanced culture. The publishing industry has evolved to meet consumers’ demands of e-book availability but many scholars, school districts, as well as the federal government, are starting to question the effects of the new mediums, and are trying to determine if e-books should be integrated into school curricula for enhanced learning. Therefore, through a quantitative research design, this study investigated the popularity of e-books as well as the impact that e-books are having on the reading habits of the students of today’s Net Generation – those who were born in the 1980s or later. Findings from the distributed surveys illustrated that e-books have not yet fully reached a “tipping point” amongst the Elementary school students surveyed to show positive or negative effects. Results also indicated that although students of the Net Generation are technology savvy, they are continuing to choose which medium - whether that means reading out of an e-book or a traditional book - they prefer in relation to which communicative experience they would like to have at the given time.

Comments

All rights reserved.

Download

Share

COinS