The subjects for this study were 81 freshman students who were taking courses in the social sciences at Herbert H. Lehman College in New York. A Nelson Denny Reading Test showed their average reading grade level to be 10.4 Twenty-three books in the social science areas were selected for appraisal, using such procedures as the application of a…

Reports on an analysis of 35 American management textbooks that identifies 17 core concepts for management courses for information professionals. Each concept--accountability, accounting, authority, budgeting, change/innovation/creativity, communication, controlling, decision making, delegation and organization, ethics, fiscal management,…

This brief report focuses on the cognitive level of decimal problems in 16 textbooks. Activities at the application level are included, but seldom are higher-order intellectual behaviors found in the books. (MNS)

Reports results of an investigation of science content of 10 recently published elementary science textbook series. Results show that though textbooks cover a wide range of science content, they do not promote or encourage the development of scientific thinking or attitudes, nor do they engage students in applying cognitive processes that are…

An analysis of elementary social studies textbooks published between 1970 and 1980 showed that few of the innovations resulting from the "new social studies" movement found their way into social studies texts. The profit motive of publishing companies is blamed. (RM)

An analysis showed that elementary social studies textbooks inadequately treat the Vietnam War. Alternatives for the teacher are suggested. (RM)

Describes a study conducted to determine prevalence of educational software field testing by producers, number of teachers and students participating, evaluation criteria used, whether documentation includes field test results, field test value, and other evaluation methods utilized during product development. Textbook versus software evaluation,…

Indicates that popular methods texts used in college classes are no better than basal manuals in providing guidance in how to teach comprehension. (FL)

A Texas panel created by People for the American Way found that the majority of U.S. history textbooks reviewed represented a significant improvement over history books of the past. However, current books are not without problems, e.g., uneven coverage of minorities and weak treatment of religion as a force in history. (RM)

A content analysis of secondary U.S. history textbooks revealed that texts do include discussions of women. However, the emphasis is usually on female contributions that are an extension of women's nurturing role within the family or that are supportive of male activities. Eleanor Roosevelt is the most featured woman. (RM)

An approach to language textbooks evaluation based on objective criteria and relying on data easily obtained by means of computers, such as word frequency lists, is proposed. The importance of vocabulary acquisition in language learning is emphasized. Accordingly, word selection and rate of repetition are seen as central evaluation criteria. (MES)

The article studies the changing images of Blacks in 25 representative American government textbooks. Concludes that the average textbook does not portray the Black community in a realistic manner and outlines issues that a textbook writer should be aware of. (Author/KC)

Using the Fry Readability approach and a ten percent random sample of all reading materials from each grade level within a program, readability data were collected on six popular elementary science textbook series. Fry readability averages and ranges for the six programs surveyed are reported by grade level. (Author/MK)

Of 21 beginning French textbooks evaluated according to presentation of French culture, only two met the cultural and pedagogical criteria derived from various models. Lacking this cultural content, students cannot fully learn the foreign language. (PMJ)

A Cloze test used with a mathematics textbook and other evidence indicate that secondary school mathematics texts need improvement. (MK)