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Who is conducting the book study?

The study is being conducted by Content Connections LLC, a privately held company that provides marketing research, audience analysis, and content review services to the book publishing industry. The company began operations in 2001 and has conducted literally thousands of online surveys, focus groups, and book or manuscript reviews for major American publishing houses as well as smaller publishers and individual authors. 

What is the purpose of the book study?

Our primary goal is to raise awareness of the disparity between the powerful force women are in buying and reading books and their under representation as authors, and hopefully, to find some answers that will be a start in changing that. The study focuses on the non-fiction books that female readers buy for themselves, give to others, and receive from family, friends and associates. It also explores the factors that influence women’s decisions to buy, give or read a book.  Lastly, it asks women if they envision themselves as authors and explores existing attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions about what it takes to become successfully published.


How is the study being conducted? What’s the methodology?

The study results will be based upon a non-probability sample of women in the U.S. and Canada who purchased and / or read non-fiction books in the previous year. This sample group will be invited to complete the online survey from March 8, 2007 through May 13, 2007, the duration that the survey will be open. We anticipate that a minimum of 5,000 women will complete the survey. In an effort to ensure that our non-probability sample is as representative as possible of the population of U.S. and Canadian women as a whole, and to minimize non-sampling error, we have taken the following precautions:

1. The survey is being offered to over 750 women’s professional, social, networking, and service groups with members distributed across the U.S. and in many cases Canada. The goal here is to mitigate the effect of regionality.
2. The survey is being publicized in the U.S. and Canada, and we are targeting a broad spectrum of socioeconomic groups to be as inclusive as possible.
3. The survey was pre-tested with a group of 50 women who matched our target sample. Twelve of these women then participated in one of two focus groups to discuss the survey. Our goal was to make sure that the survey questions were as clear as possible.

How is the survey organized and who is its primary audience?

The survey is organized into four parts. Part One asks participants to look back at the last year and respond to questions on their non-fiction book buying, giving, and reading patterns. Part One also explores factors that influence the decision to purchase a book and favorite non-fiction categories. Part Two gathers basic demographic information such as work and educational background. Part Three asks women to highlight their areas of expertise and interest. Part Four asks participants, regardless of whether they have published a book or not, to share their experiences with and / or perceptions of the book- publishing process and industry. The survey does not require respondents to have a particular background or experience level; it has been designed for a diverse population of women with varied backgrounds and interests. The complete survey takes about 25 – 30 minutes to complete.

Who will have access to the study results?

Everyone who participates will receive a copy of the Women and Books 2007 National Study Report. Women’s organizations that elect to participate as an organization will have access to the aggregated results for their organization only. Members of the media will receive a special version of the study report and may be granted access to the raw aggregated data from the survey.

When will the results be available?

Study results will be announced during Book Expo America, to be held in New York City from May 31-June 3, 2007.


In what way do you anticipate the results will influence the book industry?

We anticipate that the survey will answer some questions on how women read and recommend books, what factors increase the appeal of certain books to women, and what women need to increase their interest in becoming authors and ability to do so. The book industry knows that women are a powerful market and buy the majority of trade books sold.  We hope that this will help the industry create books that appeal to women and carry the messages women want to hear, as well as stimulate interest in seeking out and promoting women authors.


Who is Content Connections? 

Content Connections LLC, is a privately held company, founded and run by publishing veterans, that provides marketing research, audience analysis, and content review services to the book publishing industry. The company began operations in 2001 and has conducted literally thousands of online surveys, focus groups, and book or manuscript reviews for major American publishing houses as well as smaller publishers and individual authors. Since the company was founded Content Connections’ primary business focus has been educational publishing (textbooks) and non-fiction titles (professional, trade, and reference). In 2006 the company created a new division, AuthorBound, whose mission is to bring our audience analysis, research, and review methodologies and tools to authors and aspiring authors.


Who is the media contact?

If you are a member of the media and would like to request an interview regarding the Women and Books 2007 Study, you may contact Joanna Brody, (310) 582-0085, Joanna@brody-pr.com; or Jennifer Heinly, (949) 716-9829, jjconsultin@cox.net. Additional information for the media can be obtained at www.WomenAndBooks2007.com/pressroom