Infographic: The Open Textbook Challenge 15.11.2012 Nate Hoffelder 5 Comments This week’s infographic comes via OnlineColleges.net and takes a look at the rising cost of textbooks. More Infographics More Infographics
Forgotten Books Buys 500,000 ISBNs, Makes Bid for Title of World’s Largest Spam and Scam Book Publisher
Comments
Popup November 15, 2012 um 9:44 am
I simply don’t believe that college textbooks increased by 186% in 2004 alone!
The graph surely represents cumulative increase since 1986, but it does so in a rather sloppy way.
Nate Hoffelder November 15, 2012 um 3:31 pm
I thought the graph showed the cumulative increase over time, not proportional.
Popup November 15, 2012 um 4:25 pm
Yes, that’s what it looks like, but the graph is labelled 'annual percentage increased'.
The data might well be correct, but when it’s presented in such a sloppy fashion it’s hard to take it seriously.
Frustrated November 16, 2012 um 6:17 am
What a great, unintentional example of the kinds if poor presentation you are likely to get without a professional author and editorial team. You don’t see this in professional textbooks. Perhaps you do get what you pay for.
Nate Hoffelder November 16, 2012 um 7:32 am
You must not follow the same textbook publishing circles I do. This kind of mistake is less uncommon in paid textbooks than you might think.
And what makes you say that the folks who release an OEM textbook aren’t pros?