EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE- SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

MEDICAL RESEARCH UNIT

PROTOCOL DRAFT

RESEARCH Population:- Students of Emilio Aguinaldo Collage of medicine

QUESTION (P-I-C-O)
Intervention:- using books as study material

Comparison:- Use of other gadgets

Outcome:- Measure Preference

PROPOSED TITLE Preference of using hard copy and soft copy as a reading material among medical
students of Emilio Aguinaldo Collage: Comparative study

MEMBERS GROUP LEADER: RATHOD KUSHAL R. Contact Number: +918735974971

Members: MURALIKUMAR PREETI (S)
MUTHAVARAPU ANISH CHOWDARY
PADALIYA URVISH
PALETI PRANEETH
PAPASANI MAHESWARA REDDY
PATEL DEEPKUMAR
PITTA DEVI PRASANNA
POTTI MANIKANTA
RATHOD KUSHAL R. (L)
SINGH MEDHA (T)
BACKGROUND Written in chapter 1

SIGNIFICANCE 21st century has become a digital world, and technology has become part of our daily
life. Now a days students mostly use internet resource for their study and use
different kind of devices for study. This study focus on the situation, where students
use electronic gadgets as study material, but some still use old method, like reading
from books. As researcher we think that both method can have effect on student’s
academic performance. This study aims to find out that, how using of soft copy or
hard copy as study material will effect student’s academic performance.

RELATED Written in chapter 2

LITERATURE

OBJECTIVES General objective:

To measure preference of hard copy and soft copy among those who use it as a
study material

Specific objective:

1. To determine the demographic profile (age, gender, and year level) of each
group of students.
2. To assess the reason for choosing e-book or printed book as reading material
or any other reason.
3. To compare the easy accessibility of books compare to electronic gadgets.
OUTCOME Preference
VARIABLES

STUDY DESIGN  Cross-Sectional (prevalence survey) □ Community Trial

□ Case-control □ Randomized Clinical Trial
(Check if applicable) □ Before and After Study (Quasi-Experimental) □ Case-Series
□ Retrospective Cohort □ Meta-Analysis
□ Prospective Cohort □ Systematic Review
□ Phenomenological study Comparative study
□ Ethnographic study
Setting and Duration This study will be conducted through Google survey of currently 1st, 2nd and 3rd year
of Study medicine students. Researchers will take 3-4 weeks to complete the survey and
study.

Participants Target Population: currently 1st, 2nd and 3rd year medicine students

Setting/Location: Through Google survey, EAC

Sample Size (Estimate)- 150 students

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

1. Only regular students are allowed to participate in the study

2. Age range 20-29 only(age and memorization power has relationship)
3. Those who enrolled in 1st, 2nd year and 3rd year are including in this study

Exclusion

1. Those who enrolled in 4th year(clerkship) are not including in this study

Data Collection  Interview  Records review

Method  Mixed methods
Self-administered questionnaire  Review of journals (meta-analysis)
(Check if applicable)  Others_Online Google survey_
 Direct observation of behavior/event
Data Collection Tool Questionnaire

Statistical For Assessing hypothesis, Chi-square test formula will be used.

Methodology

Operational Budget N/A

Ethical Concerns (Refer to Ethical Guidelines 2017 PNRHS Manual)

 Conflicts of Interest
(if any)

Group Leader’s Signature

_______________________

Research Mentor

CHAPTER 1

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Today’s students are considered as new digital generation as they grew up and surrounded with new
technologies like smartphones, tablets and high-end computer devices so, most of the students these days
are e-readers. Teachers and parents certainly acknowledge the growing influence of latest technology. Some
policy makers and teachers are investing in classroom technologies, and most of the students are equipped
with iPad and access to e-books. Given this trend policy makers, teachers, student and parents are assuming
that student’s familiarity with technology and preference of using it for academic purpose translates into batter
academic performance and better learning outcomes. So, in this study researchers will focus on differences
between e-book reading and reading from hard copy.

Study habits have been the most important predictor of academic performance of the students. And also
plays a role in the academic achievement of the students. This habits includes what type of reading material
students prefer. Is it in-print or digital text? According to Merriam Webster, to read means “to look and
understand meaning, words and symbols etc. In this digital world students are using internet as their study
source more often than previous times. Now a days in college library there is availability of e-books as well
as original books (hard copy). Some students use digital text via tablet, phone or computer devise. Some use
in-print text as their reading material because they are not familiar with pros and cons of digital text. This
study aims to gather some information about what kind of reading material students prefer and how it affects
their academic performance. Because a lack of adequate information of hard copy and soft copy can cause
problem for many readers as they make decision about which type of text would be most beneficial to use
for reading purpose.

SIGNIFICANCE

21st century has become a digital world, and technology has become part of our daily life. Now a days
students mostly use internet resource for their study and use different kind of devices for study. This study
focus on the situation, where students use electronic gadgets as study material, but some still use old method,
like reading from books. As researcher we think that both method can have effect on student’s academic
performance. This study aims to find out that, how using of soft copy or hard copy as study material will effect
student’s academic performance.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS

This study aims to focus on, use of soft copy or hard copy as reading material and their effect on student’s
academic performance.

1). Students access to electronic gadgets and internet connection.

2). Students access to library.

OBJECTIVES

General objective:

1. To measure preferance of hard copy and soft copy among those who use it as a study material

Specific objective:

1. To determine the demographic profile (age, gender, and year level) of each group of students.
2. To assess the reason for choosing e-book or printed book as reading material or any other reason.
3. To compare the easy accessibility of books compare to electronic gadgets.

HYPOTHESIS:

Null hypothesis: there is no significance difference among students using of soft copy compared to use of
hard copy in reviewing and it preference on 1st, 2nd and 3rd medical students of EAC.

Alternative hypothesis: there is significance difference among students using of soft copy compared to use
of hard copy in reviewing and it preference on 1st, 2nd and 3rd medical students of EAC.

Relevance and Application of the study:

Purpose of doing this study is to make clearer about what study material should students use especially
among medical students since they have to read all the time. During this pandemic of COVID-19, students
are studying through online platform, which very new and challenging for everyone. Through this study
researchers wants to know what type of study material students prefer in terms of reading and for other
purpose, and hopefully through this study researcher will be able to tell the study material students do prefer
and what should they prefer. Because there is a difference between choosing and using it. And researchers
hope that study will guide future medical students on choosing their study material type (E-book or Printed
book).
CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

E-Book versus Printed Books: Dhaka University Students Preference

The study was conducted to determine the preference of Dhaka university students on reading printed books
or e-books and the reasons for their preferences. The study was conducted using screening technique, a
descriptive research model and to compare the quantitative data with the relationship between 2 groups, chi-
square test was used. There were 100 participants and the data collection method was through
questionnaires. According to the responses of the students, printed books were used daily by most of the
people (66%) and rest used it rarely, monthly, weekly and never. The e-books were used rarely by most of
the students (45%) and rest used it daily, monthly, weekly and never. Most of the students preferred printed
books (79%) and rest preferred to use e-books (21%). According to the students the reasons for preferring
the printed books were to protect the eye health, it is much portable, realistic and easy to read and understand,
cannot give up the habit of reading printed books, no familiarity with use of technology and those some were
not aware about the availability of electronic sources. Few of them prefer e-books because of its availability,
able to save in desktops, environment friendly and more efficient. Their preference of printed books, difficulty
in finding the e-books, unavailability of certain e-books, limitations on copying, printing and viewing images /
graph / illustration, difficulty in using e-books, being unaware of e-books or insufficient training to use them
are some of the reasons that discourages the students from using e-books. Though the opinion of students
is positive about the e-books, but the use of them is comparatively low. The conclusion of the study was
that the e-books were not very much preferred over printed books and printed books continue to be preferred
reading format. There was significant relationship between the status of reading e-books and printed books;
also there was significant relationship between students’ gender and reading printed / e-books.

The Effects of Reading Mode on Recall and Comprehension

This study explored students’ differences in reading comprehension between digital and paper reading
modes. This quasi-experiment consisted of adult students enrolled in military leadership courses. Each
randomly selected group read the same leadership article, either digital or paper. Students completed an
assessment to determine differences in recall accuracy and comprehension between digital and paper
readers. While there were no significant differences in group means of recall between reading versions, a
persistent pattern in differences of score ranges and frequencies was evident for recall accuracy and
comprehension. The implications and considerations of individual differences in score frequencies are
discussed. (Anne M. Niccoli, 2015)

E-book Screen vs. paper: what is the difference for reading and learning?

We have all seen the magazine headlines: screens make us read slower, learn less deeply, remember less
and sleep worse. Is this why students prefer to print out their electronic textbooks? We suspected it was habit
and attitude rather than measurable cognitive effort during reading that made people prefer print texts, we
show relation to our own experience of using tablets and teaching scholars and students how to use their
tablets/smartphones in their work. There are many benefits of e-books, such as being able to access many
books without carrying a heavy load. But as studies have shown, people still choose paper over screen. Habit
and attitude appeared to be important, and a digitally born textbook is by far the best alternative to a print
textbook when it comes to studying. But even those who prefer to read on screens are originally native paper
readers, and as long as the existing application interfaces cannot address the shortcomings of screens
regarding spatial landmarks, we will keep returning to paper under certain circumstances. (38th UKSG Annual
Conference, Glasgow, 2015)

The Effect of Smartphones on Students’ Academic Life: A Perceptive from a South African University

A cell phone is a propelled cell phone gadget that has improved significantly in the 21st century with the
settlement of numerous highlights, for example, getting to messages, biometrics, web based shopping,
internet based life, and some more. The cell phone has additionally made understudies' lives simpler, as they
can get to their school data on the device through electronic learning (e-learning), and versatile learning (m-
learning). This examination intended to research the impacts of cell phone utilization on college understudies'
learning forms in a creating nation. To accomplish the fundamental point, the targets of the investigation are:
to decide the favorable circumstances and impediments of understudies' utilization of cell phones, to evaluate
how understudies utilize their cell phones in extending their instructive profession, and to decide factors that
propel understudies to utilize cell phones. A quantitative research philosophy was utilized, while information
assortment was done through surveys involving an example size of 375 respondents. The examination found
that cell phone utilization positively affects understudies' scholarly advancement, as they can get to their
scholastic material; it has improved their scholarly outcomes and furthermore improved their person to person
communication. (Tokelo Mpho Masiu, Joshua Ebere Chukwuere, 2018)

Smart Phone Use for Learning

This examination was intended to discover the utilization of PDAs for learning among understudies in the
College of Ghana. The principle destinations sought after by this examination was to explore the appropriation
factors generally applicable in understudy utilization of cell phone as a learning device, and furthermore to
research the job of teachers (instructors) in understudies' goals to learning through cell phones, just as
explore factors that restrain the utilization of cell phones as a learning device. The investigation found that
restraining factors moderate at any rate, the connections between selection factors like: execution
anticipation; exertion hope; and help conditions, and understudies' eagerness and capacity to learn with cell
phones. The examination suggests that the College ought to furnish understudies with assets that are
important to upgrade cell phone learning. With respect to for future examination; different specialists should
endeavor inspecting cell phone learning in different settings, for example different Colleges, just as complete
a near report among the organizations in order to plentifully educate experts on how cell phone learning can
be coordinated into the learning exercises of Colleges in Ghana. (University of Ghana, 2017)

Teaching and Learning with Mobile Technology: A Qualitative Explorative Study about the
Introduction of Tablet Devices in Secondary Education

This paper explores instructors' and understudies' discernments concerning the effect of utilizing tablet
gadgets for educating and learning purposes. An explorative center gathering study was led with educators
(n = 18) and understudies (n = 39) in an auxiliary school that has executed tablet gadgets since 2012. The
general finding of this investigation shows that the utilization of tablet gadgets in the homeroom setting affects
both instructing and learning rehearses. The outcomes propose that instructors can be isolated into two
classifications: the creative educators and the instrumental instructors. Imaginative educators endeavor to
move from an instructor focused to a learning-focused methodology. They have changed their showing style
by changing exercises as per the focal points tablet PCs can offer. Instrumental instructors appear to utilize
the gadget as a 'book behind glass'. The qualification between the two gatherings has ramifications for both
the manner in which courses are given and how understudies experience them. By and large, the
presentation of tablet gadgets involves a move in the manner understudies learn, as the gadgets give
intelligent, media-rich, and energizing new situations. The consequences of this investigation demonstrate
that strategy creators ought to consider presenting specialized and academic help so as to encourage the
two instructors' and understudies' comprehension of the maximum capacity of this sort of innovation in
training (Montrieux H, Vanderlinde R, Schellens T, De Marez L, 2015)

The use and effect of smartphones in students' learning activities: Evidence from the University of
Ghana, Legon

The utilization of cell phone is bit by bit turning into a convincing learning apparatus used to upgrade
instructing and learning in separation training. Its use guarantees adaptable course conveyance, makes it
workable for students to get to internet learning stages, get to course assets and interface carefully. The
motivation behind this investigation was to inspect the utilization and impacts of the cell phone as a learning
device in separation training at the College of Ghana. The investigation depended on the Innovation
Acknowledgment Model (Hat) and included 294 all out respondents. The overview inquire about plan and
polls were utilized for the investigation. The significant targets of the examination were: to discover the
understudies' apparent usability of a cell phone in learning exercises, to decide the apparent helpfulness of
cell phone in understudies' scholarly accomplishment, to explore the impact of the utilization of the cell phone
in understudies' learning exercises, and to research the variables that repress the utilization of a cell phone
as a learning apparatus. The discoveries uncovered that the separation learning understudies think that it’s
simpler to utilize a cell phone in their learning exercises. The discoveries likewise uncovered that the
utilization of cell phones performed exceptional jobs among the separation learning understudies of the
College of Ghana in their scholarly exercises. In any case, the discoveries found a negative impact on the
separation learning understudies and uncovered some restraining factors in the utilization of cell phones
which included cell phones freezing during significant learning minutes, shaky web availability, meddling calls
during class hours, and the screen and key sizes, which made the cell phone awkward for learning, when
contrasted with PCs. (N Darko-Adjei, 2019)

Conceptual Framework
CHEPTER 3

Methodology

Study group

The participants of this study comprised of 123 students studying in different class levels across the Emilio
Aguinaldo College. In this particular graph it depicts about the percent of students in each particular level. To
be in specific among the 123 students of different class levels about 52.8% i.e. more than half of the
participants are from class level 3 and 20.3 percent of them are of year level 2 and 26.8% are from year level
1.

1st year: 33

2nd year: 25

3rd year: 65

The participants of this study comprised of approximately one third i.e. , around 30.1 % among them are aged
22 years, 18.7% are 21 years, 17.1% are 23 years,9.8 % are 24 years, 7.3% are 20 years , 7.3% are 25
years, 3.3% are 26 years,2.4% are 27 years, 2.4% are 28 years.
The participants of this study comprised of 59.3% of females and 40.7 % of them are males among the 123
students of 3 class levels.

Data collection Tools

A Google survey was developed as data gathering tool for the specific purpose of this study. This
questionnaire integrating Emilio Aguinaldo College students collected information on preference of using hard
copy and soft copy which contained 11 questions.

Analysis of Data

Acquired data in research were analyzed using google survey form responses analytical tools. To evaluate
the data, descriptive statistical methods (Number, Percentage) were used. To compare the quantitative data
with the relationship between two groups, chi- square test was used.
Findings

According to the responses of students to the questions in the data collection tool, the following conclusions
are reached:

How often do you use print books?- 42.3 % of the students answered "Rarely", 17.9% answered " Daily" ,
17.1% answered"Weekly", 9.8% answered"Never".

How often do you use e-books?-69.9% of the students answered"Dialy", 18.7% answerd " Weekly", 6.5%
answered" Rarely",i.e. there are two third of the people who used e-books daily.

Do you prefer e- books or print books? - 65% of the students answered “e- books", 35%answered “print
books". Most of the participants preferred E-books over Print books.
If your answer is printed books, what are the reasons you prefer reading printed books to e-books? (Can
select more than one option.)- 65.7% of the students answered " To protect my ey health", 58.6% answered
" I understand better when I read the book in my hands", 43.4% answered " I like holding book in my hands",
43.4% answered " More realistic", 39.4% answered " Because it is portable and easier to read", 24.2%
answered "Cannot give up the habit of reading printed books", 20.2% answered" I like the smell of the book",
17.2% answered " No reason", 7.1 % answered " To support authors of printed books", 6.1% answered "
Printed books are more cost effective", 3% answered " I do not have the technology to read e-books".
For what purposes have you used printed? (Can select more than one option.)- 86.5% of the students
answered "For Educational purpose", 46.2% answered “Reference", 37.5% answered “Research", 31.7%
answered “Leisure", 26.9% answered “Instruction.

What discourages you from using e- books? (Can select more than one option.)- 47.8% of the students
answered " Preference for print books", 35.9% answered " Difficulty finding them", 30.4% answered "
Limitations for viewing images, graphs, and illustrations", 22.8% answered " Difficulty using reference", 19.6%
answered " Limitations on copying and printing,17.4% answered " Relevance e- books are not
available",10.9% answered " Insufficient training in how to use them",7.6% answered " Not aware that e-
books are available"
If your answer is e-books, what are the reasons you prefer reading e-books to printed books? (Can select
more than one option.)- 79.5% of the students answered " Available from anywhere at any time", 57.7%
answered " Environmentally friendly",56.4 answered " Ability to highlight text",52.6% answered " Full text
search capability",51.3% answered "Ability to save to desktop" ,42.3% answered " Cut and paste
capabilities",38.5% answered "Ability to take capabilities", 32.1% answered " Ability to print".

Assessing Hypothesis: -

Table 1. Chi-square test: the relationship between the status of reading e-books and printed Books

Response E-Books Printed books

Yes 43 (A) 80 (B)

No 80 (C) 43 (D)

Based on above formula, computed X2 value is 22.26 and this value exceeds the table value of 3.8412 (at 1
degree of freedom and a significant level of 0.05). Meaning if the X2 value is more than 3.841 than p value
would be <0.05. Meaning we reject null hypothesis and accept alternative hypothesis.

So, there is a significant between the status of reading E-books and printed books.
Chapter 4

Discussion and Conclusion

The purpose of this study was to determine if print books or e-books are the more preferred choice of students
for learning. From the questionnaire data, it is apparent that most of the respondents preferred printed books
over e-books as their choice of reading material. Around 65% of students prefer print books whereas only
35% of students prefer e-books.

It is evident from the data that the students are using printed books mostly for their educational purposes as
firstly they are eye-friendly, secondly, they give a more fulfilling reading experience. E-book use did not fully
satisfy respondents, partly due to the historic paradigm of hard copy and the fact that many respondents are
more familiar with using this medium. This was found to be true in most of the reviewed literature as well.

Respondents chose eBooks because of certain key advantages, particularly relating to convenience and
accessibility, portability, navigability, and the fact that act as a preview to determine the usefulness of a
particular book. Despite these advantages, sentiment of respondents regarding eBooks was not fully positive.
For many respondents there existed a 'soft spot' for hard copy format, and there was a perception that holding
the book in their hand helps them to understand the text better and this format enabled an authentic, more
realistic, and enjoyable reading experience.

Finally, we conclude that both print books and e-books have some merits and demerits As both eBook and
print book evolves, in the future, they may complement each other as it may able to provide the same content
in two different mediums. As many e-books have certain limitations for viewing images, graphs and
illustrations also limitations on copying and printing the text which these limitations should not be imposed on
educational books so that students could make their notes and highlight the text which would make their
learning more efficient.

REFERENCES

E-Book versus Printed Books: Dhaka University Students Preference, October 2014

Anne M. Niccoli "The Effects of Reading Mode on Recall and Comprehension" (2015). NERA Conference
Proceedings 2014.

E-book Screen vs. paper: what is the difference for reading and learning? Based on a breakout session
presented at the 38th UKSG Annual Conference, Glasgow, March 2015

The Effect of Smartphones on Students’ Academic Life: A Perceptive from A South African University Tokelo
Mpho Masiu, Joshua Ebere Chukwuere and Management Dynamics, 174, 2018

Smart Phone Use For Learning: A Study On University Of Ghana Students, University of Ghana, 2017

Montrieux H, Vanderlinde R, Schellens T, De Marez L (2015) Teaching and Learning with Mobile Technology:
A Qualitative Explorative Study about the Introduction of Tablet Devices in Secondary Education.

The use and effect of smartphones in students' learning activities: Evidence from the University of Ghana,
Legon, N Darko-Adjei - 2019 - 197.255.68.205
 Appendix 1

Questionnaire

Age: -

Your Gender- a) Male b) Female

Year Level – a) 1st b) 2nd c) 3rd

Emil ID: - (Optional)

How often do you use print books?

a) Never b) Rarely c) Monthly d) Weekly e) Daily

How often do you use e-books?

a) Never b) Rarely c) Monthly d) Weekly e) Daily

Do you prefer e-books or print books?

a) E-books b) Print books

If your answer is printed books, what are the reasons you prefer reading printed books to ebooks?
(Can select more than one option.)

a) I like holding the book in my hands

b) To protect my eye health

c) Because it is portable and easier to read

d) More realistic

e) I get more pleasure

f) I like the smell of the book

g) I understand better when I read the book in my hands

h) I do not have the technology to read e-books

i) Printed books are more cost effective

j) To support authors of printed books

k) Cannot give up the habit of reading printed books

l) No reason

For what purposes have you used printed? (Can select more than one option)

a) Research b) Instruction c) Reference d) Leisure e) For educational purpose

What discourages you from using e-books? (Can select more than one option)

a) Not aware that e-books are available

b) Relevant e-books are not available

c) Difficulty finding them

d) Difficulty using interface

e) Limitations on copying and printing

f) Insufficient training in how to use them

g) Preference for print books

h) Limitations for viewing images, graphs, and illustrations.

If your answer is e-books, what are the reasons you prefer reading e-books to printed books?

(Can select more than one option.)

a) Available from anywhere at any time

b) Full text search capability

c) Ability to highlight text

d) Ability to make annotations

e) Cut and paste capabilities

f) Ability to save to desktop

g) Ability to print

h) Environmentally friendly

i) More efficient

Appendix 2

Critical values for the Chi Square Distribution

Significance Level
Informed consent: -

INFORMED CONSENT

We are 3rd year medical students, conducting an online survey. This questionnaire is for the evaluation of
Preference of using hard copy and soft copy as a reading material among medical students of Emilio
Aguinaldo Collage. An options has been provided for the survey part of the questionnaire. The respondents
are supposed to answer each statement with what suits best to them based on the scale provided. The
researchers would really appreciate and be thankful for your valuable participation in this survey study

SIGNIFICANT:-

Your participation in this study will help to guide future generations to choose between, hard copy and soft
copy. Which is more beneficial to them for study.

CONFIDENTIALITY:-

The output given by you and results will only be presented to our professor nonetheless. No information will
be included that will reveal your identity to the researcher. We assure you the information obtained from you
will only be used for the purpose of research only. Your information safe with us.

If you have any trouble answering survey or have any question about it. Please contact

RATHOD KUSHAL.

______THANK YOU__________