Notes the different approaches to teaching theory found in a survey of 84 journalism and mass communication instructors. Provides a list of reviews of the 55 texts and four articles most often cited in the survey. (RL)

Reviews textbooks for research methodology instruction in political science and concludes that most textbooks equate methodology with inductive procedures. A goal for the 1980s is an integration of deductive models with statistical testing procedures. (KC)

The neglect of neutrino emission during nuclear beta decay in many general chemistry textbooks is discussed. (BB)

A survey of how 17 recent experimental psychology textbooks treated the subject of random assignment of subjects to groups for purposes of experimentation is discussed. Findings indicate that the textbooks generally gave favorable coverage to the practice. Further research might improve this simplistic understanding. (Author/DB)

Ten introductory textbooks on mental retardation were analyzed with the Flesch formula for reading ease and interest. All texts fell in the "difficult, college level" category for complexity, but seven were classified as "dull" and three "mildly interesting." Most included adequate organizational aids, and agreement…

A survey of 62 college and university faculty determined that 77 different textbooks are being used in courses designed for teachers of the gifted. For textbooks most frequently used, information is provided about the textbook content, course levels used for, and basis for selection. (Author/JDD)

Describes recent changes in management education in the former Soviet Union. Identifies tendencies that have arisen in educational reform: (1) short-term seminars, courses, and conferences; (2) short-term seminars featuring foreign experts; (3) new permanent educational institutions; and (4) retraining experts in new economic knowledge. Discusses…

Presents criteria to help teachers choose textbooks for English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) composition students, based on how well each text teaches users to write argumentative essays (a form foreign to many ESL students). Evaluates 14 textbooks using these criteria. (SR)

Compares a "new" measure for assessing the level of abstraction of textual material with an old measure. Finds some similarity in their assessment of science texts, and finds that the earlier measure may be easier for the nonspecialist to use. Suggests a rule of thumb for practicing teachers. (SR)

Presents ideas and activities to be used in a course on the history and systems of psychology. Explains that the students prepared topic summaries to demonstrate knowledge rather that formal testing. Describes projects such as a reaction journal, intellectual genealogy, textbook comparison, and multiple timelines. (DK)

A survey of 18 college textbooks published between 1980 and 1991 showed that there are significant shortcomings in how public administration is presented. Many authors rely on narrow perspectives and popular myths and fail to cite many of the field's leading contributors or consider the critical issues facing the public service profession.…

Presents seven brief essays regarding the role of the textbook in basic communication courses. Addresses the proper function of a textbook, how instructors weave a textbook into their course, how students should be reading their textbooks, how students and instructors define the textbook's role, and what textbook features optimize and hinder the…

Articulates the nature of the interactive/constructivist model, describes the role of the teacher in guiding and facilitating student growth, and derives principles of teaching that could serve as the basis for a systematic review of textbooks. Emphasizes the fact that teacher preparation programs must ready candidates to actively analyze,…

Argues that the failure to identify concepts and definitions with their corresponding levels of discourse has resulted in the propagation of historically outdated definitions and vocabulary in chemistry textbooks. Provides several examples of the problem from textbooks. Contains 36 references. (DDR)

Presents results from a content analysis of 12 human sexuality textbooks published between 1989 and 1996 to determine the relationship between the content and presentation of the material in the texts. States that the textbooks demonstrate a preference for how sexual material is visually presented. (CMK)