Investigates whether novelistic prose can be dated by considering marked stylistic changes that occurred over the past 240 years. Finds a positive correlation between publication date and stylistic markers of sentence length, word length, rare punctuation, and word shortening or informality. Argues that this process can form the basis for new…

Reviews the literature of librarianship and related behavioral research to identify evaluation methods that have been successfully applied to the analysis of library space planning. The discussion covers the appropriate conditions for the use of various evaluation techniques, including questionnaires, interviews, behavior mapping, time budgets,…

Describes discussion practices recommended in 15 postprimary reading methods textbooks published before and after 1970. Focuses analysis on (1) function of textbook in discussion; (2) questioning-discussion relationship; and (3) teacher-student relationship in discussions. Finds that earlier authors granted texts more status as arbiters of ideas…

Identifies developments in U.S. history in which religion played a decisive role. Investigates the way these religious forces were dealt with in 10 high school U.S. history textbooks used in Alabama. Concludes that they ignored or distorted the place of religion to the extent that students are denied knowledge of recent historical research. (LS)

This study focuses on imagery of youth and old age in the plays of Euripides, especially the "Suppliant Women," considering frequently used words in each play according to formula developed by Pierre Guiraud. Identifies a motif, the rejuvenation theme, in several of Euripides' plays. Shows how the word "neos" (new, young) helps…

Asserts that certain traits and factors, such as persistence through failure and a tolerance for frustration, help children overcome life's problems. Analyzes 30 award-winning children's books from 1928 to 1987 and 14 "children's favorites" to determine if these books contain characters and plots that display resiliency. (MM)

The presentation of gas properties in terms of the qualitative-quantitative mode and gas law sequence is examined by analysis of 14 chemistry textbooks used in Australia and on questionnaires concerning teaching approaches by 104 teachers. Findings indicate that teaching involves minimal use of qualitative relationships of the gas laws and…

Shows that the task of keeping a journal, as defined within the writing-to-learn model, has two salient assessment features: (1) the journals differentiate between students at a particular grade level, and (2) they show a growth in sophistication over successive years. (14 references) (Author/MKR)

Content analysis of 13 textbooks and 2 Department of Education documents was conducted to ascertain common word processing, database, and spreadsheet software skills in order to determine which specific skills should be taught in a high school computer literacy course. Aspects of a basic computer course, created from this analysis, are described.…

Describes the results of a study examining fictional representations of two-year colleges. Argues that the general perception that the majority of two-year college students are women and/or members of the working class is a major determinant of the institution's low status and lack of visibility. (27 citations) (MAB)

Describes a method of developing user-based objectives for bibliographic instruction that utilizes content analysis to code self-reports by library users according to a taxonomy of library speech acts in the affective, cognitive, and sensorimotor domains. Analysis of one student's library reports and translation of the analysis into enabling…

This study examined instructional media on childhood injury that are available to the general public and educators. Content analysis of 49 films and videotapes showed that this sample did not parallel current trends in childhood injury epidemiology. A need for empirical evaluation of these media was identified. (four references) (MES)

Compares assumptions regarding teaching about religions found in a 1959 report with those held by contemporary advocates of religion studies. Explores ways of preparing future teachers to handle teaching about religions. Urges teachers to be aware of students' religious perspectives. Suggests using reference to religions in textbooks, legal cases…

Feminism and gender in the construction of English as a university discipline and the historical development of English are discussed. Generally, English is studied by women and taught by men. The teaching of English today is examined through interviews with four university English department lecturers in the United Kingdom. (SLD)

Criticizes the prevalence of trivial and noninformative content in two primary grade social studies expanding environment textbook series. Extends earlier study, adding three additional analytical categories to its framework. To teach citizenship effectively, recommends (1) eliminating redundant, superfluous, and text-inappropriate content; (2)…