Reading in the 21st century: Paperbacks vs. Ebooks

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Reading in the
21st century:
Paperbacks
vs. E-books

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INDEX
Sr.No. Topic Page
No.
1 Introduction 3
2 Review of literature 5
3 Significance of the study 7
4 Objectives if the study 8
5 Hypotheses of the study 8
6 Limitations of the study 8
7 Research Methodology of the study 9
8 Conclusion 11
9 Bibliography and Webliography 12
10 Annexure 1 13

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INTRODUCTION
A leader is a thinker, a person whose judgement is developed. To be a
leader one has to be a well-versed and confident person. Such balance
only comes through reading.
Through reading, we get new ideas and thoughts and learn many
lessons which can shape our characters and mould us into better
human beings.
The most basic skill a child develops as part of his education, reading is
of utmost importance at all levels: the elementary, the secondary and
the tertiary. Parents and teachers should give great importance to this
skill, which is invaluable not only in gaining knowledge, but also to
develop critical thinkers and independent learners. The benefits of a
sound reading habit to vocabulary, knowledge and grammar cannot be
emphasised enough.
It is essential that the reading habit be developed not just at school but
at home as well. However, it is of utmost importance that reading
shouldn’t seem like a chore. Here’s where the habit of reading for
pleasure comes in. With no stress of any kind of test or exam looming
over their heads children can read books of their interest and derive
enjoyment, while learning is carried out simultaneously and almost
effortlessly.

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Reading is important because it develops the mind. The mind is a
muscle. It needs exercise. Understanding the written word is one way
the mind grows in its ability. Teaching young children to read helps
them develop their language skills.
It is how we discover new things. Books, magazines and even the
Internet are great learning tools which require the ability to read and
understand what is read. A person who knows how to read can educate
themselves in any area of life they are interested in. We live in an age
where we overflow with information, but reading is the main way to take
advantage of it.
In our country, a sharp decline among youth in reading habits has been
observed during the last three decades, as books have been replaced by
cell-phones, computers, laptops, iPads and tablets.
There is an old saying that ‘book is the best friend’. However, in era of
technology, the time to be spent on reading books is now being spent on
surfing the Internet with these gadgets.
According to researchers, the main factor responsible for this decline is
our educational system and teaching practices especially at the primary
level. At one time school libraries used to have a good collection of
books accessible to the students.
On this issue they say that modern technology has increased the
literacy rate, but at the same time habit of book reading has also
declined.

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Recent surveys suggest that although most people still prefer paper
especially when reading intensively, attitudes are changing as tablets
and e-reading technology improve and reading digital books for facts
and fun becomes more common.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Review 1
Aramam Ajmal1 has highlighted that the changes in technology demand
an increase and development of both print and electronic media. He
further suggests that it is true that there is now a strong move towards
electronic media, and long term predictions point 50:50 ratios between
print and electronic media. However, he appropriately concludes with a
few statements made in the past spoke against the spread of print.
About 1920 it was said radio will replace print. Later in 1950s it was
assumed that television is going to kill newspaper. In 1980, computer
believed to wipe out print. At last it was said, digital media is perfect
substitute for print. And time, he mentions, proved that they were
glaringly incorrect.
Review 2
Joshi Bharath2 has reported that the 49-year-old engineering dropout,
Paul Dsouza is ready with his latest prototype: a refreshable braille
display device for the visually-challenged, a tactile equivalent of an e-
reader that may be available at a fraction of the cost of similar devices.
1 Aramam Ajmal, Print Media v/s Electronic Media v/s Digital Media in
Indian Context, Academia.edu, New Delhi, 2015.
2 Joshi Bharath, Bengaluru-based college dropout invents e-reader for
the blind, The Economic Times, India, June, 2015.

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He further explains that with this device, the visually challenged
persons can carry with them an entire library so they can start reading,
just like an e-reader andwants to name the device Touche (French for
touched, English for acknowledgement).
Review 3
Mahmood Khalid,3 has observed that reading habit has been a subject
of investigation in librarianship, journalism, education, psychology,
literature and history. He explains further that reading habit means
behavior that expresses the likeness of reading of individual. Reading
and instruction can satisfy the need for information. People read
information materials which might help them learn more about their
occupations or about their hobbies. However, he states that the number
of those who know how to read but do not read enough is increasing.
He also emphasises that libraries can play a significant role in the
promotion of reading habits in any society.
Review 4
Prasad Krishna4 has observed that readers still prefer paperbacks over
electronic reading on devices such as the kindle, according to results of
a new survey that aims to put the spotlight on the reading habits of
Indians. He highlighted that irrespective of age, four out of five people
(78 per cent) respondents surveyed by the Tata Literature Survey 2014
said they favoured printed books over electronic reading.
3 Mahmood Khalid, Libraries and Promotion of Reading Habits in the
Digital Age, Library & Information Science Journal, Pakistan,
September 2004.
4 Prasad Krishna, Indian Readers Prefer Paperbacks over Digital Devices:
Survey, Outlook Magazine, Delhi, November 2014.

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He further states that the survey is an effort to look into contemporary
India's literary leisure reading and it has not only explored reading
tastes, but more importantly how India is reading today.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
In modern society, research has become an importantactivity for its very progress.
Research producesnew knowledge, which takes the society forward. It enables to
find solutionsto problemsand resolve conflicts in a society.
Readingis an art which providesahuman being with the foundation upon whichto
erect his or her understandingof lifeas well as the elements with which to build
his or her worldview.
Clark and Rumbold (2006)observed that, in addition to personaland mental
developments, readingiscritical for ensuringone’saccess to social, economic and
civic life. Against the backdrop of rapidly changingnature of life as wellas the
society, readingis considered to be crucial for people from all cross-sections of life
for successfully copingwith the complexities and challenges of the 21stcentury. In
recent times, the emergence of digital technologies and variousmodesof social
interaction, readingis facing a number of hurdles. Readingamongyoungpeopleis
said to be on the declinebecause of their interest in social networking, gaming,
music, and so on.
This research aims to assess the readinghabits of peoplein this 21st century based
on the findingsof this survey.
The adventof widespread computer usein general and increasing developmentsin
technology in particular has increased awarenessof the issue of reading electronic
text.
In simpleterms, there exist two schools of thought on the subject of electronic
texts. The first holds that paper is far superior and will never be replaced by
screens. The argumentis frequently supported by referenceeither to the typeof
readingscenarios that would currently provedifficultif notimpossible to support
acceptably with electronic text, e.g., readinga newspaper on the beach or a
magazinein bed, or the uniquetactile qualities of paper.

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The second school favoursthe use of electronic text, citing ease of storage and
retrieval, flexibility of structureand saving of natural resourcesas major
incentives. Accordingto this perspective, electronic text will soon replace paper
and in a short time (usually ten years hence) we shall all be reading from screens
as a matter of habit.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
 To identify reading interest and habits of people of different age
groups.
 To trace the major trends in reading with the influence of e-books,
devices used for reading e-books and purchasing trend of e-books.
 To analyze the differences in reading habits among respondents
who read from paperbacks and those who read from digital
screens.
HYPOTHESIS OF THE STUDY
H₀ : There exists no significant shift in reading methods from print
media to digital media.
H₁ : There exists significant shift in reading methods from print media
to digital media.
LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
 Since a small sample was chosen, it may not be true
representative of population under study.
 The questionnaire is limited to simple questions.

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 The views and preferences of individuals keep changing rapidly
and hence it is difficult to form a conclusion.
 Time is the biggest constraint.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
1. Sources of Data
a. Secondary data: data will be collected from various
secondary sources such as:
 Newspapers
 Books
 Magazines
 Online journals
 Internet
b. Primary data: data will be gathered through a
questionnaire.
2. Universe of the study
The study will be conducted in the Mumbai suburban region and
specifically within the area of Borivali to Malad.

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3. Sample size of the study
Table 1
Edu.
Level
Undergraduate Postgraduate Professional
Total
Age group Male Female Male Female Male Female
12-20 1 2 1 1 1 1 7
21-30 1 1 1 2 1 1 7
31-40 1 1 1 1 1 1 6
41 & above 1 1 1 1 1 1 6
Total 4 5 4 5 4 4 26
4. Data Analysis
The data will be analysed using central tendency method of statistics.

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CONCLUSION
The subject of reading from text and reading from screens and its impact on
modern behaviouris a fascinating topic.In past decades,many scholars have
noticedsignificant changes in reading behaviour. We find ourselves in a
transitionalphase at the present time, for although our societyis still print-
based, digitalreading is taking up an increasing part of our daily reading
practices.Because this subject affects all of us, every reader is automatically
an authority in the field, which results in an abundance of speculations on the
possible impact the digital medium might have on our reading behaviour.
There are many factors to considerwhen discussing the matterof
paperbacks vs. e-books,but ultimately,it boils down to the reader’s
preference. Avid fans of printed books claim that there’s still nothing like the
smell of paper and the rustle of the pages as the reader flips gently through
the book with their fingers. There’s something intimatelyrustic about the
entire experience,they claim, and it’s one that cannot be derived from the
cold, electronic book version.
The current transitionfrom print to digital is extremely interesting and our
societycan be sure that it will be the object of future research. It is inevitable
that we will experience some changes in our reading behaviour,since
transformations inmedia necessarily go hand in hand with transformations
in reading practices.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY AND WEBLIOGRAPHY
Bibliography:
S.P. Singh, Research Methods in SocialSciences:A Manual for designing
Questionnaires,Kanishka Publishers, New Delhi, 2009.
Arvind Kumar, Research Methodologyin SocialScience,Sarup Books
Publishers, India, 2002.
Webliography:
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/islamabad/21-Jan-2014/habit-of-book-
reading-declining-among-youth
https://www.ischool.utexas.edu/~adillon/Journals/Reading.htm
http://www.public.asu.edu/~kroel/www500/hypothesis.pdf
http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/18849907/libraries-promotion-
reading-habits-digital-age
http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/indian-readers-prefer-
paperbacks-over-digital-devices-survey/866649
http://www.academia.edu/5274094/Print_Media_v_s_Electronic_Media_v_s_
Digital_Media_in_Indian_Context

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https://econsultancy.com/blog/65390-paperback-vs-ebook-the-staging-
ground-for-a-generational-battle/
http://indiaspeakersforum.com/physical-book-vs-ebooks-india-speakers-
forum/
Annexure 1
QUESTIONNIARE
Dear Respondents,
I am a student pursuing M.ComPart-II.I amunderlying a projectnamed
“Reading in the 21st
century:Paperbacks v/s E-books”
So by filling this questionnaire, please help me in completing my research project. The
information provided by you will be kept confidential and will purely be used for
research work only.
Name: _____________________ (optional)
Age group:
□ 12-20
□ 21-30
□ 31-40
□ 41 & above

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Gender:
□ Male
□ Female
Qualification:
□ Higher secondary
□ Undergraduate
□ Postgraduate
□ Professional
Occupation:
□ Student
□ Employed
□ Private business
□ Retired
1. How many books have you read in the last year?
□ 1-2 books
□ 3-5 books
□ 6-10 books
□ 11 or more books
2. If you had tochoose, would you prefer?
□ Reading a print text

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□ Reading on an electronic device
□ Both
3. Have you purchaseda paperback or an e-book in the last 12 months?
□ I’vepurchased only e-books
□ I’vepurchased only paperbacks
□ I’veboughtboth e-books and paperbacks
4. If prices on printedbooks and e-books were the same, which wouldyou rather
buy?
□ Printed Books
□ E-Book
5. Do you agree with the following statement? “E-books will eventually become
the most popular form of book”
□ Strongly agree
□ Agree
□ Neither agree nor disagree
□ Disagree
□ Strongly disagree
6. How long do you think printedmaterial (novels, newspapers, magazines,
textbooks, etc.) will last?

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□ 3 years
□ 10 years
□ 20 years
□ There will always be printed material.
7. When reading books electronically, which device do you prefer to use the
most?
□ iPad
□ iPhone / Smart Phone
□ E-book Reader (Kindle,Nook, etc.)
□ Computer / Laptop
□ I don’t read e-books
8. Do you think using electronic devicesmake students more or less likely toREAD
BETTER OVERALL?
□ More likely
□ Less likely
□ Makes no difference
□ I don’t know
9. Do you think using electronic devicesmake students more or less likely tobe
INTERESTED in what they read?
□ More likely
□ Lass likely

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□ Makes no difference
□ I don’t know
10.If you use an electronic device toreadbooks, why do you prefer it over a
paperback?
□ Portability
□ Convenience
□ Cost factor
□ Environmental choice
□ Others (please specify)
____________________________________________
11.The popularity of e-books is on the rise. Do you think e-books will outpace
paperbacks, or do you think there will always be a market for traditional
books?
□ E-books arethe way of the future
□ Paperbacks willstand the test of time
□ Too early to tell
12.How important is ease of reading, purchase, and accessibility toyou?
□ Very important
□ Somewhatimportant

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□ Not important
Please tick ( √ ) Yes or Noas applicable:
Qstn. YES NO
13 Do you find reading books electronically difficult
compared toprintedmaterial?
14 Do you think students shouldbe allowedto use
electronic devices (suchas tablets, etc.) inthe
classroom?
15 Are reading strategies more helpful for little children
using an e-book compared to paper books?
16 Do you think technology is reducing the needfor certain
jobs (i.e. journalism, publishing, etc.)?