Beyond the surveys

From 2014-2017, the Academic Reading Format International Study (ARFIS) collected data from over 21,000 university students in 33 countries regarding their reading format (print or electronic) preferences and behaviors when engaging with academic texts. Quantitative analysis from the amalgamated survey data show a consistent preference for print reading among the majority of students worldwide. This paper presents previously unpublished findings from our qualitative analysis of students’ survey comments. We investigate the questions: Why do students prefer to read in print or electronically? What factors affect their decisions to read a text in their less preferred format? What behavioral patterns present themselves that will assist librarians and educators when deciding upon format policies?