Investigated how 11 9th-grade Portuguese physics textbooks dealt with heat and temperature and whether they were adequate information sources for students. Examination of ideas (which included correctness of concepts and arguments, global teaching approach, and learning activities) indicated that most of the textbooks were not consistent with…

Evaluates four middle school geography textbooks to examine readability levels, knowledge forms, intellectual operations, instructional objectives, and activities associated with before-, during-, and after-phases of instruction. Finds the texts to be generally inconsiderate of poor readers and to be dense with factual information. Discusses…

Discusses the reasons for identifying the contributions of women astronomers in introductory textbooks. The evolution of inclusion over the past 4 decades is explored by examining the rates of inclusion of 10 women astronomers in textbooks. Contains 100 references. (DDR)

Examines the contents of textbooks used in physics courses between 1967 and 1997 in Victoria, Australia for curriculum balance and emphasis on different aspects of scientific literacy. (Author/CCM)

A study assessed the relationship between formal main idea statements in text and substantive material that students need to understand the key concepts in textbooks. The study addressed two questions: (1) What percentage of textbook paragraphs contains material important for understanding major textbook concepts? and (2) How important are formal…

This is a report of the Japan/United States Textbook Study Project the goal of which is to improve each nation's textbooks, especially in regard to the treatment of Japan in U.S. textbooks, the treatment of the United States in Japanese textbooks, and the treatment of relations between the two countries in each nation's textbooks. Panelists from…

Comparison between school districts in adoption and nonadoption states in terms of particular textbook adoption practices and particular reading textbooks selected indicated that, with the exception of cost, there are not significant differences in reading textbook adoption in the school districts. (Author/CB)

Divides 31 mass communication textbooks into introductory and issue-oriented texts that reflect an insider's view of mass media and stress socialization to the industry or theory texts that take a more academic and critical view of the role of communication in society. Defines mass communication. (NKA)

Descriptive statistics of grapheme patterns to which child readers are initially exposed were determined, with the purpose of providing a data source for research on children's knowledge and use of orthographic structures in reading and spelling English. (DF)

Introductory psychology textbooks were analyzed to determine what percentage of space they devoted to the following content areas: experimental/learning, physiological/biological, developmental, social/personality, cognitive, clinical, educational, industrial/organizational, tests and measurements, and other. Results showed a clear preponderance…

An content analysis of introductory psychology textbooks revealed that only 25 percent of the texts include a section on industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology and that another 25 percent fail to even mention the area. Such limited coverage of the I/O field may limit career alternatives that students consider. (RM)

Surveys selected British schoolbooks for controversial racial and multicultural content (checklist provided at end of article). Notes customary procedure for textbook production and suggests ways to bring about changes. (JDH)

A content analysis of 22 secondary economics textbooks revealed the textbooks to be less sex-biased than the books examined in earlier studies. However, women are still underrepresented in most of the textbooks, and little attention is given to economic realities which women face. (Author/RM)

To increase student success in technical content area reading, the reading abilities of l,027 students and the readability levels of ll0 textbooks were evaluated at a California community college. Results indicated a significant portion of students were reading more than two years below the level of currently used texts. (Author/BS)

Thirty-seven social studies methods texts were examined to see how concept instruction was covered. Seven provided no guidance for instruction in social science concepts, and most did not provide sufficient information and guidelines, despite the considerable body of knowledge that stresses the importance of this area. (IS)