Abstract:
In recent times, there has been an upsurge in the use of
softcopy (digital) materials for learning especially among
students on university campuses because digital devices abound.
This has raised concerns of whether students now prefer the
softcopies of learning resources to using hardcopies. This
exploratory study therefore investigated the preferences of
students (between softcopy and hardcopy materials) for reading.
A descriptive survey was employed as the research design and
questionnaires were used to gather data from respondents.
Students from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana specifically,
in their second to final years of some selected programmes were
used in the survey. Data was analysed with the use of descriptive
statistics. Despite the fact that students were observed to have
more taste for their academic materials in electronic formats, the
findings revealed that students preferred hardcopies to softcopies
though they agreed that they make use of both depending on the
situation. It was thus recommended that instructors should make
course materials available in both digital and print formats for
students to access for the studies.
