The Financial Burden of College Textbooks and Its Effect on Student Learning

Gisselle Gutierrez

Co-Presenters: Gisselle Gutierrez, Maria Faican, Nicasio Pichardo

College: College of Business and Public Management

Major: BS.MARKETING

Faculty Research Mentor: Lee, Kyungwon  

Abstract:

More than half of high school students decide not to attend college. One of the reasons students are opting out of college is due to inflation rates. Cost of college textbooks are mandatory to have and use in the classroom. College textbooks are priced too high for students to afford and cause an unnecessary expense. Inflation rates have risen over the years which caused the cost of college textbooks to rise. College students are being burdened by how expensive textbooks are. College tuition being expensive is enough of a burden on students as it is. Student’s learning are being affected because they are struggling to pay for college textbooks. Technology has also changed the way we obtain materials for classes. Course materials are being converted to digital subscriptions rather than using a physical textbook. Students are not able to buy used books because of how courses are being offered. Not only are more classes moving to digital textbooks where you are not able to use the material after you take the class. But also if you do get a physical textbook you are only allowed short term access to the book (i.e. six months paid period). This can hinder how students are able to learn because they will not be able to apply what they learned in the class with the book to future classes. This is our research study for the financial burden of college textbooks and how it affects students’ learning. We will be using surveys as our data source. We will be analyzing the cost of college textbooks and how it may or may not affect students’ ability to learn while attending college. We will be gathering data from current Kean students. We want to receive data from students of all majors and years in college. We will recruit participants by announcing in classrooms, student organizations, and networking. Participants will let us know if students learning are being affected by college textbooks high costs.