Includes a comment on the article by William B. Fink.

The preparation of spelling skills indices, which may be used to describe the spelling content commonly taught in textbooks and the performance modes used to practice this content, is outlined in this paper. Separate sections discuss the preliminary analysis that was performed; the establishment of a Content Index that specifies major categories…

WORD COUNTS WERE MADE TO COMPARE THE VOCABULARIES IN READING, HEALTH, SCIENCE, AND ARITHMETIC TEXTBOOKS FOR GRADES ONE TO THREE. COUNTS WERE MADE IN SEVEN DIFFERENT BASIC READING SERIES AND IN THREE DIFFERENT SERIES IN EACH OF THE THREE CONTENT AREAS. THE LIMITATIONS OF THE WORD COUNTS ARE SPECIFIED. FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE WAS USED TO ANALYZE THE…

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of verbal and perceptual aspects of learner aptitude, in relation to inspection behaviors performed while learning from written materials containing two modes of instructional content. Science instructional materials containing both text and diagrams were modified by (1) inserting questions that…

This document presents the results of a survey concerning the percentage of mathematics, science, and social studies teachers who assign writing to their students and the percentage of textbooks in these three content areas which include writing assignments. Some of the findings were that mathematics and science teachers favor reporting over…

It was the purpose of this study to determine the readability level of all social studies textbooks authorized for purchase in the adoption made by the Textbook Commission of the Indiana State Board of Education on December 12, 1968 for five years beginning July 1, 1969. A thorough search of the literature and research did not reveal that their…

Reports on a study that determined the readability of a representative number of study habit books used in college reading and study skills courses and then compared their readability with the reading ability of the students who use them. (HOD)

Selected examples of definitions, rules, and techniques found in several mathematics textbooks circa 1776 are presented. (MN)

To explore the readability of different levels of accounting textbooks, samples were selected from three high school, three vocational, and three college textbooks. The statistical tests conducted indicated that mean reading levels increased in difficulty as grade levels increased and that reading levels were considerably below grade levels of the…

A study of physical and pedagogical characteristics, determination of basal difficulty, and story contents in West German and United States reading texts shows that basal readers are more often similar than dissimilar, perhaps having undergone similar developmental changes across cultures. (JM)

Seeks to promote more discriminating use of current language textbooks by attempting to isolate a general implicit goal in their development, by pointing out developmental issues awaiting resolution, either in theory or in practice, and by identifying assumptions about the desired role of teachers and students. (Author/DJD)

Examines readability of elementary science textbooks regarding visual supplements (color, visuals, and page layout). Significant relationships were found between cloze scores and both grade level and content. Also found significant interaction between grade and sex in favor of older males. Eight of nine texts were at or near readability…

Three high school biology textbooks were analyzed to determine possible sources of misconceptions and related learning problems associated with genetics. Misconceptions were examined in these categories: conceptual organization; conceptual relations; use of terminology; and mathematical elements. Implications for instruction related to each…

Briefly reviews the literature on sex discrimination in U. S. history textbooks and its potential impact on students. Presents the results of a content analysis of five high school U. S. history textbooks adopted in Texas during 1979-84. Concludes sex discrimination and sex stereotyping were present in these textbooks. (JDH)

This study demonstrated a direct relationship between achievement level (measured by responses to biological items on the 1977 National Assessment of Educational Progress's science survey) and concept emphasis in biology textbooks. In addition, recommendations of Project Synthesis were not found in newer biology textbooks. Other findings are…