An evaluation of the content of three basal reading series show that they are changing with the times. Current readers are less likely than older readers to show sex and racial stereotyping and no longer show life as always happy. (Author/IRT)

Teacher editions of four basal reading series used in the first, fourth, and sixth grades were analyzed to determine the extent of inclusion and explanation of the levels of questioning. Questions from the first two, middle two, and last two stories in each of the teacher editions were analyzed. All teacher editions examined recognized the…

Reports the results of a study to determine whether males and females in basal reading textbooks have the same treatment concerning personality traits and representation. (JM)

Publishers have responded to calls for more minority characters and females in basal readers, but many of the changes appear superficial. (MKM)

Reading comprehension questions selected from readers, teacher manuals, and workbooks of three current, widely used and representative basal reading series were analyzed according to the Barrett Taxonomy to determine cognitive objectives. The taxonomy has five major divisions and thirty-three levels within, claimed to be cumulative and sequenced…

A scheme based on Bloom's taxonomy of educational objectives was developed for classifying questions asked in basal reading manuals. A total of 6,988 questions from 144 lesson plans selected from basal readers from four major publishers were analyzed; 2,754 questions were from the 1950-1959 time period, and 4,234 were from the 1966-1975 time…

Forty-six first-grade teachers' manuals and workbooks from three basal reading series published in the 1930s, 1950s, and 1970s were examined for differences in the amount of material devoted to word-attack skills. Word-attack skills were defined as the use of phonic and structural analysis for successfully attacking unrecognized words. Results…

A group of six feminists undertook this study because they felt it important that people learn about racial and sexual discrimination in textbooks used in Baltimore City and other U.S. schools. The task force chose five series of basal readers widely used in Baltimore. These series are used in most, if not all, Elementary Secondary Education Act…

Based on the hypothesis that certain elementary texts generally assign negative unrealistic, and tertiary roles to technical-vocational work modes, the study indicated that quantitative and qualitative bias in favor of professional work modes does exist in elementary reading textbooks. Jobs occupying positions of less status, i.e.,…