The viability of e-textbooks in developing countries: Ghanaian university students’ perceptions

As higher education institutions the world over are gradually transitioning to e-textbooks, this study explored Ghanaian undergraduate students’ awareness, experiences and perceptions of e-books, particularly with regard to their acceptance of e-textbooks as eventual replacements of physical textbooks. A total of 253 undergraduate students at a private university in Ghana participated in the study by responding to paper-based questionnaires administered over a four-week period. Analysing data with simple descriptive statistics and content analysis, the findings reveal that students generally have a fair idea of what e-books are, and also acknowledge the potential benefits of e-textbooks. However, a significant number do not presently use e-books. On the whole, students are strongly averse to using e-books and other Internet-based electronic resources in place of physical books for academic purposes. Factors influencing these perceptions are discussed within the broader context of barriers to effective e-textbook adoption and usage in developing countries.