Students' Preferences of Reading E-Books and Printed Books in Developing Reading Proficiency

Abstract

This study used a quantitative approach with a survey design to analyze students' preferences for e-books and printed books in developing reading skills. The research subjects consisted of students from the English Education Study Program at the Indonesian Catholic University St. Paul Ruteng, specifically from the 2022 cohort, including classes 2022A, 2022B, and 2022C. The research instrument was a questionnaire comprising 24 questions in English, collecting information on students' reading habits with printed books and e-books, technological knowledge related to e-books, and factors influencing their preferences, such as the electronic devices they owned. The questionnaire was converted into an online format using Google Forms and distributed through WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, and Facebook. The results showed that although students acknowledged several advantages of e-books, such as ease of changing font styles, environmental friendliness, and practicality during travel, they generally preferred printed books. Most respondents felt that printed books offered stronger emotional attachment, were easier to trade, and provided a better reading experience in terms of comprehension and memory retention. While e-books were seen as enhancing study interest and providing practical digital content management, challenges such as eye strain, notification distractions, and difficulty in digital note-taking remained significant barriers. Overall, despite the acceptance of e-books, printed books were still the preferred choice for academic reading.