It is thoroughly agreed that English language textbooks stand amongst the foremost components in any language classrooms worldwide, being referred to as valid, beneficial and labor-saving tools to fulfill an extensive range of needs. An ELT textbook is not merely a set of sheets of paper fastened together to hinge at one side, but is the beating…

Describes the Instructional Strategy Diagnostic Profile (ISDP)--an analytic tool that facilitates the evaluation and revision of existing instruction and the design of new instruction--and recounts its use in comparing two textbooks to determine the most appropriate for an organic chemistry course. (JEG)

A study followed three textbook adoption committees as they evaluated basal reading programs. The committees used "A Guide to Selecting Basal Reading Programs" (developed at the Center for the Study of Reading) to help them evaluate the quality of instruction in existing programs. Case studies of the three committees sought to address the…

Finds that state-level textbook adoption committee members reported four major unresolved reading issues: (1) assessment of students' reading progress; (2) whole language versus basal approaches; (3) ability grouping; and (4) use of tradebooks in place of basals. Suggests that the members may lack sufficient specific knowledge of the issues to…

A questionnaire was devised and mailed to 84 township school districts in New Jersey to determine how often each adopted new basal reading series, the extent of teacher involvement in the selection process, and whether a detailed questionnaire was used as a basis for evaluation of different basals. A Likert scale was used to grade responses.…

This study focuses on designing a content analysis method that is real to daily instructional practice. The research questions explore the trends in conducting textbook content analysis method in science educational research, and how these trends address daily instructional needs. This paper also includes a review of literature on the role of…

In a study designed to determine the impact of state curriculum initiatives on curriculum framework, student assessment, and textbook adoption in the science curriculum, researchers interviewed state education agency staff, completed four case studies in four districts, and surveyed 100 school districts at random in each of the three diverse…

The report documents the results of a national survey of book publishing firms and aviation maintenance technician schools to (1) identify the text materials used in the training of aviation mechanics; (2) appraise the suitability and availability of identified text materials; and (3) determine the adequacy of the text materials in meeting the…

This study focuses on two tasks: (1) the development of a general procedure for evaluation of social studies textbooks which could be adapted to any locale, which could be used at any grade level, and which might be applied to other subject areas, and (2) to illustrate the suggested procedure at the fifth-grade level. The procedure involves the…

Procedures and findings of a recent introductory psychology textbook selection effort at 4-year liberal arts undergraduate institution are presented. The following sequential steps were taken: (1) identification of introductory texts for consideration; (2) design of an evaluation form for reviewing targeted books; and (3) collection and analysis…

One component of an evaluation research model for system-wide selection of curriculum materials is reported: implementation of an evaluation design for obtaining data that permits professional and lay persons to base curriculum materials decisions on a "best fit" principle. The design includes teacher characteristics, learning environment…

Textbook and instructional materials selection procedures obtained from a survey of 414 selected school districts in 33 states and the District of Columbia are presented and analyzed in this report. Seventeen states were not included because the selection process in these states occurs at the state rather than at the local school system level.…