Suggests that theories of self in composition studies waver between forces of culture and psyche, and that composition theory lacks concrete representations of the materiality of self, the ways in which individuals negotiate culture to create a sense of identity. Examines diary passages from four volunteers to study the "heterophonic"…

Describes a study that analyzed 14 electronic lists or newsgroups in library and information science to find out which topics of discussion are dominant and which functions are performed by the messages posted. It also introduced students to this type of professional communication and to content analysis as a research method. Contains 51…

Considers how the illustrators of J.M. Barrie's novel "Peter and Wendy" (1911) have responded to Wendy's role as mother, with particular emphasis on her skills as storyteller and needle-woman. Presents a detailed comparison of three versions of the scene in which Wendy meets Peter and sews his shadow back for him. Explores the possible…

Presents a content analysis of the top ten self-help books on the New York Times best-seller list over a ten year period to determine the degree to which the books empower individuals to resist gender-based socialization messages. The four best sellers contained advice for both genders to behave consistently with traditional gender socialization,…

Discusses the use of electronic books (E-books), digitized versions of books that can be read on a desktop, laptop, handheld device, or a dedicated e-book reader, in education. Highlights include use in elementary and secondary schools; available content suitable for education; standards; pertinent Web sites; and the role of textbook companies and…

Examines current adolescent fiction of award-winning and widely read authors according to religious themes concerning Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Native American religions, African spirit religions, and the occult, supernatural, and New Age. Finds that the portrayal of religions and its adherents is very mixed, depending upon the religion.…

Using critical pedagogy and metaphor analysis, New South Wales government materials on forestry are examined. Results suggest they are not intended to provide information but to propagate the notion of forests as a source of economic value rather than an ecosystem. (SK)

Discusses interactive systems used for distance learning in corporate settings. Topics include use in professional development and training; the system itself, including vendors, costs, and compatibility; content issues; and the instructor or presenter, including necessary skills and knowledge to be successful in this new media. (LRW)

Uses content analysis of 14 American newspapers over an 8-week period, finding that over one-quarter of the suspects described in crime stories are identified in connection with potentially prejudicial statements (as defined by the American Bar Association), with law enforcement officers and prosecutors the most frequent sources. (SR)

Discusses the lively and often public debate in progress concerning the objectivity of the news media. Reports that scholars have approached the topic from three angles: content analysis, values, and the economics of the news industry. Suggests that the newswork routine of objectivity encourages fairness in public discourse and deserves attention…

Discusses interactive television in the context of the developing information superhighway. Topics include potential applications, including video on demand; telecommunications companies; digital media technologies; content; regulatory issues; the nature of technology users; origination components; distribution/infrastructure components;…

Uses content analysis to examine the coverage of Africa by "Pravda" before and after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Finds an absence of ideological news and a sharp decline in the number and volume of stories published in the 1992 sample compared with the 1990 sample. (RS)

Examines existence and placement of main ideas in non-fiction best-sellers. Concludes that writers of popular non-fiction use main ideas and place these ideas in prominent positions. Offers support for teaching main idea in reading classes. (RS)

Discusses some of the available frameworks for the pedagogical analysis of school science textbooks. Discusses three approaches to the analysis of science textbooks: the sociocognitive, the sociolinguistic, and the socioepistemic. Considers the relative merits of the third approach using some examples from Greek science textbooks. Contains 18…

Examines how chemistry/science textbooks from different countries and written at different levels of education deal with physical and chemical change. Results indicate that the ideas concerning the teaching and learning of physical and chemical change evident in textbooks are not complete and textbooks seldom justify the content they cover in…