A Generation Analysis of Electronic Textbook Preferences in Students with Digital Native Features

The Theory of Generations characterizes distinctive features for each generation; one of the important theories is the Theory of Digital Natives. For digital natives various features have been suggested among which “pleasures of reading” and “preferences for digital content” were investigated in the present study. This research seeks to answer “whether digital natives enjoy reading and prefer e-books to print books”. To answer this question, a research conducted in two steps. In the first step, using descriptive survey method, the data of 172 students who were selected using a cluster sampling method from 300 educational science students population at University of Birjand were analyzed. In the second stage, after presenting the e-books in a semester, using the causal-comparative method, the behavioral patterns of reading e-book by students were compared, and their preferences for e-book were studied. Digital Native Scale was used as a research tool in both research phases. The results of extreme analysis using independent t-test showed that students who have more digital native characteristics are more pleased with reading. The results of a generational analysis of e-book preferences showed that students with digital native features prefer e-books but not as a source of academic study.