Ebook Research

PaulJWK · 07-09-2010, 10:05 AM

Hi All,

My name is Paul, and I am a new addition to MobileRead.

I am currently conducting a survey for my Masters in Publishing at UCL in the UK, to try and gauge public interest in serial publications in electronic formats.

If you can spare a couple of minutes to complete this survey your help will be greatly appreciated. If you know of anyone else who might also be interested please pass it. The questionnaire can be found at this address: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/S3PRLZX

If you have any questions about this survey please contact me either through this site or on paul.kirkham.09@ucl.ac.uk

Best Regards and thank you very much for your help,

Paul Kirkham
MA Publishing
UCL

Bilbo1967 · 07-09-2010, 10:15 AM

Paul, I did try to complete your survey, however, I cannot answer Q7. It asks, "How often would you like chapters to be released for a serial novel" (or something like that. The answer for me is 'never' as I'm not interested in serial novels, but it will not let me proceed until I pick 'Daily', 'Weekly' or ''Monthly'. At this point I closed the survey as any answer I gave would be misleading.

PaulJWK · 07-09-2010, 10:39 AM

Hi Bilbo,

My aim in that question was to discover people's preferred choice from those 3 options as it would be useful to know learn what ebook readers would consider a fair interval between instalments.

However, you make a good point and it is now possible to skip that question if you so choose.

Regards

Paul

GeoffC · 07-09-2010, 10:44 AM

Whoops Question #10 .......

I answered 'unemployed' - okay, partly correct, but there is no option for "Retired!"

Worldwalker · 07-09-2010, 11:45 AM

You listed the iPad as an example of an ebook reader. It's no more an ebook reader in the sense the Kindle is than it's a game console in the sense the Xbox is. It's a general-purpose tablet computer that has an ebook reading app; you could have just as well included the Nintendo DS (yes, you can read ebooks with it). This is going to skew your results some.

Also, I think there is a pro-serial bias that may also skew the results. The questions seemed more like "How much sugar do you like in your coffee?" with no options for "I hate coffee and will only drink it if no better source of caffeine is available." Not everyone is of a temperament which can withstand serials. I'm just too impatient, and I hate getting interrupted just when things are getting interesting. I'd rather wait a year for the whole thing to be available than read it bit by bit.

The question on electronic reading was also a bit confusing, percentage-wise. I was unsure on exactly what constituted "reading" for the purpose of the question. Books, obviously, and you mentioned online newspapers. But what about forums like this one? Garden catalogs that show up in my snail mail? (I guess it proves that I'm a garden geek when the seed catalogs go into the bathroom reading rack with the magazines!) Mail in general, both p- and e-? That might need to be clarified a bit. And how does it break down between reading for pleasure, personal use (bills, news, etc.), and work, if one's job requires regular reading of something?

Still, overall a better survey than many I've seen. Just in case, though, I'm not sure if I answered the "why did you buy an ereader?" question fully, In case I left it out (I'm multitasking at the moment) my answer should have included, as the main reason: "So I could read Project Gutenberg in bed."

GhostHawk · 07-09-2010, 11:54 AM

Seemed like the focus on the survey was on producing serial style ebooks.

Sorry but I don't see the point. Sure King did it (once) in paper with the Green Mile
But that is a 1 trick pony, he didn't do it again did he?

For "asking" ebook readers what they think + 10 points.
For focusing on the wrong point (Serially releasing ebook chapters)- 2 points.
For apparently trying to figure a way to get even more money out of consumers - 4 points.

Result 4 out of 10.

Advice, forget the fancy stuff. Build a better ebook with perfect formatting, variety of formats to choose from, from good authors with good story's. Price them reasonably, while watching your overhead and you'll make money.

luqmaninbmore · 07-09-2010, 12:27 PM

Did anyone else read "my Masters in publishing" as a double entendre?

jasonfedelem · 07-09-2010, 01:47 PM

Filled out the survey. Would have liked to see it focus more on pricing for periodicals and regular books than serial books, which really do not interest me that much.

dickon25 · 07-09-2010, 02:46 PM

Hi Paul,

I completed your survey because you asked nicely

. However, I felt you should have added the option 'I wouldn't read an ebook by serial chapters and would never pay for them'. Otherwise a poll of the ereading public might wrongly suggest they would all read a book in that format and the only thing to settle is the price and frequency of chapters. I may be wrong (and your survey results will give us a clue!) but I think that is a long way from the reality.

Good luck!
Chris

TGS · 07-09-2010, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luqmaninbmore

Did anyone else read "my Masters in publishing" as a double entendre?

Kumabjorn · 07-09-2010, 03:31 PM

+1
Meaning I agree with everything above.

MmavisO · 07-09-2010, 05:07 PM

Paul, I think Question 2 is confusing. "Do you own an ereader..." Then the next part is "If you do not own one...". here comes the confusing part: "If you answered yes to the last two questions..." To me, those are mutally exclusive. I either own an ereader (whether an Ipad is an ereader notwithstanding) or I don't. So how can I answer yes to both parts? If the last part was simply worded as "Are you considering purchasing an ereader?" then it would cover those of us who are serial ereader buyers as well as those who are looking for their first ereader. The essay part could then be answered by those who answered yes to both parts.

Otherwise, I agree with what has been said above--kudos for asking, but perhaps the survey could have been better worded.

And luqmaninbmore--I did a bit of a double take at the double entendre, too!

Glad I wasn't the only one!

pholy · 07-09-2010, 05:29 PM

OH! Finally. It's been a long, long time since I was a grad student, and then only part time... so my Boss got first dibs, and the profs never really had a chance

mr ploppy · 07-09-2010, 06:12 PM

The main problem with serials, whether you pay for them or not, is whether the writer will ever finish them. For that reason, I would never read one until it was finished.

AnemicOak · 07-10-2010, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

The main problem with serials, whether you pay for them or not, is whether the writer will ever finish them. For that reason, I would never read one until it was finished.

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07-09-2010, 10:05 AM	#1
PaulJWK Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: none	Ebook Research Hi All, My name is Paul, and I am a new addition to MobileRead. I am currently conducting a survey for my Masters in Publishing at UCL in the UK, to try and gauge public interest in serial publications in electronic formats. If you can spare a couple of minutes to complete this survey your help will be greatly appreciated. If you know of anyone else who might also be interested please pass it. The questionnaire can be found at this address: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/S3PRLZX If you have any questions about this survey please contact me either through this site or on paul.kirkham.09@ucl.ac.uk Best Regards and thank you very much for your help, Paul Kirkham MA Publishing UCL

07-09-2010, 10:15 AM	#2
Bilbo1967 Not scared! Posts: 13,424 Karma: 81011643 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midlands, UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite 10, Huawei M5 10	Paul, I did try to complete your survey, however, I cannot answer Q7. It asks, "How often would you like chapters to be released for a serial novel" (or something like that. The answer for me is 'never' as I'm not interested in serial novels, but it will not let me proceed until I pick 'Daily', 'Weekly' or ''Monthly'. At this point I closed the survey as any answer I gave would be misleading.

07-09-2010, 10:39 AM	#3
PaulJWK Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: none	Hi Bilbo, My aim in that question was to discover people's preferred choice from those 3 options as it would be useful to know learn what ebook readers would consider a fair interval between instalments. However, you make a good point and it is now possible to skip that question if you so choose. Regards Paul

07-09-2010, 10:44 AM	#4
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	Whoops Question #10 ....... I answered 'unemployed' - okay, partly correct, but there is no option for "Retired!"

07-09-2010, 11:45 AM	#5
Worldwalker Curmudgeon Posts: 3,085 Karma: 722357 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: PRS-505	You listed the iPad as an example of an ebook reader. It's no more an ebook reader in the sense the Kindle is than it's a game console in the sense the Xbox is. It's a general-purpose tablet computer that has an ebook reading app; you could have just as well included the Nintendo DS (yes, you can read ebooks with it). This is going to skew your results some. Also, I think there is a pro-serial bias that may also skew the results. The questions seemed more like "How much sugar do you like in your coffee?" with no options for "I hate coffee and will only drink it if no better source of caffeine is available." Not everyone is of a temperament which can withstand serials. I'm just too impatient, and I hate getting interrupted just when things are getting interesting. I'd rather wait a year for the whole thing to be available than read it bit by bit. The question on electronic reading was also a bit confusing, percentage-wise. I was unsure on exactly what constituted "reading" for the purpose of the question. Books, obviously, and you mentioned online newspapers. But what about forums like this one? Garden catalogs that show up in my snail mail? (I guess it proves that I'm a garden geek when the seed catalogs go into the bathroom reading rack with the magazines!) Mail in general, both p- and e-? That might need to be clarified a bit. And how does it break down between reading for pleasure, personal use (bills, news, etc.), and work, if one's job requires regular reading of something? Still, overall a better survey than many I've seen. Just in case, though, I'm not sure if I answered the "why did you buy an ereader?" question fully, In case I left it out (I'm multitasking at the moment) my answer should have included, as the main reason: "So I could read Project Gutenberg in bed."

07-09-2010, 11:54 AM	#6
GhostHawk Data Privateer! Posts: 586 Karma: 62887 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Fargo ND Device: Ectaco Jetbook& Jetbook Lite	Seemed like the focus on the survey was on producing serial style ebooks. Sorry but I don't see the point. Sure King did it (once) in paper with the Green Mile But that is a 1 trick pony, he didn't do it again did he? For "asking" ebook readers what they think + 10 points. For focusing on the wrong point (Serially releasing ebook chapters)- 2 points. For apparently trying to figure a way to get even more money out of consumers - 4 points. Result 4 out of 10. Advice, forget the fancy stuff. Build a better ebook with perfect formatting, variety of formats to choose from, from good authors with good story's. Price them reasonably, while watching your overhead and you'll make money.

07-09-2010, 12:27 PM	#7
luqmaninbmore Da'i Posts: 1,144 Karma: 1217499 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Baltimore Device: Toshiba Thrive, Kobo Touch, Kindle 1, Aluratek Libre, T-Mobile Comet	Did anyone else read "my Masters in publishing" as a double entendre?

07-09-2010, 01:47 PM	#8
jasonfedelem Zealot Posts: 118 Karma: 202232 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Texas Device: Kindle Paperwhite Gen2	Filled out the survey. Would have liked to see it focus more on pricing for periodicals and regular books than serial books, which really do not interest me that much.

07-09-2010, 02:46 PM	#9
dickon25 Groupie Posts: 199 Karma: 818 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: UK Device: Sony PRS-505. Pocketbook Inkpad 840	Hi Paul, I completed your survey because you asked nicely . However, I felt you should have added the option 'I wouldn't read an ebook by serial chapters and would never pay for them'. Otherwise a poll of the ereading public might wrongly suggest they would all read a book in that format and the only thing to settle is the price and frequency of chapters. I may be wrong (and your survey results will give us a clue!) but I think that is a long way from the reality. Good luck! Chris

07-09-2010, 03:31 PM	#11
Kumabjorn Basculocolpic Posts: 4,356 Karma: 20181319 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sweden Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Kindle 4SO, Kindle for Android, Sony PRS-350 and PRS-T1	+1 Meaning I agree with everything above.

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07-09-2010, 05:07 PM	#12
MmavisO Seeker Posts: 349 Karma: 479648 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Liberty, MO USA Device: Asus TF, PB 360, Jetbook Lite	Paul, I think Question 2 is confusing. "Do you own an ereader..." Then the next part is "If you do not own one...". here comes the confusing part: "If you answered yes to the last two questions..." To me, those are mutally exclusive. I either own an ereader (whether an Ipad is an ereader notwithstanding) or I don't. So how can I answer yes to both parts? If the last part was simply worded as "Are you considering purchasing an ereader?" then it would cover those of us who are serial ereader buyers as well as those who are looking for their first ereader. The essay part could then be answered by those who answered yes to both parts. Otherwise, I agree with what has been said above--kudos for asking, but perhaps the survey could have been better worded. And luqmaninbmore--I did a bit of a double take at the double entendre, too! Glad I wasn't the only one!

07-09-2010, 05:29 PM	#13
pholy Booklegger Posts: 1,801 Karma: 7999816 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Device: BeBook(1 & 2010), PEZ, PRS-505, Kobo BT, PRS-T1, Playbook, Kobo Touch	OH! Finally. It's been a long, long time since I was a grad student, and then only part time... so my Boss got first dibs, and the profs never really had a chance

07-09-2010, 06:12 PM	#14
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	The main problem with serials, whether you pay for them or not, is whether the writer will ever finish them. For that reason, I would never read one until it was finished.