A Study of Textbook Material in the Field of Arithmetic

297 Pages·011.931 MB·English

by  Hamilton, Jean Frances

A STUDY OF TEXTBOOK MATERIAL
IN THE FIELD OF ARITHMETIC
by
Jean Frances Hamilton
A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy,
in the Department of Education, in the
Graduate College of the State
University of Iowa
June 19%0
ProQuest Number: 10902169
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ACKNOVMIGMENTS
The writer wishes to express her appreciation for
the encouragement and assistance given by Dr. Herbert F.
Spitzer, who directed this study.
The writer also wishes to express her appreciation
for the cooperation given by teachers and school administrators
who participated in this study.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter Page
I Introduction and Statement of the Problem ... 1
Introduction.........................1
Statement of the Problem...............3
II Review of the Literature in the Field
of Arithmetic.......................... 5
Representative Examples of Theory
and Review of Related Studies..........5
III Procedure and Materials...................25
Introduction ....................... 25
Investigation I .....................25
Part A ................... 25
Part B ........................28
Investigation II.....................31
IY Results................................ 38
Investigation I .....................38
Part A ........................38
Analysis of Observation Reports
for Part A of Investigation I ... 1+3
Part B ........................53
Interpretation of Table 1 .........5U
Analysis of Table 1 .............. 85
Investigation II.....................92
Interpretation of Tables 2— 5 . . . . 9li
Analysis of Tables 2— 5 ...........99
Detailed Analysis of Question 8
Summarized on Table 2 . ....... 101
Results of Individual
Questionnaires.................101;
Interpretation and Analysis of
Tables 6 and 7 .................105
iii
Chapter Page
Interpretation and Analysis
of Tables 8, 9 and 10............ 109
Interpretation and Analysis
of Tables 11, 12 and 13...........HU
Interpretation and Analysis
of Tables lit, 19 and 16...........120
Interpretation and Analysis
of Tables 1?, 18 and 19.......... 129
Interpretation and Analysis
of Tables 20, 21 and 22 ..........129
V Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations .... 137
Investigations I and II................137
Investigation I ...................... 137
Conclusions.....................138
Investigation I I ................... 11+9
Conclusions.....................lU6
Limitations......................... ll*9
Recommendations...................... 193
Bibliography.............................195
Appendix I ..................... 198
Reports of Observations Made in Fiftjr
Elementary Arithmetic Classrooms for
Part A of Investigation I ............ 198
Appendix II ................ 199
Guide Sheet Questionnaire Submitted
to Teachers for Part B of
Investigation I .....................199
Appendix III ........................... 199
Arithmetical textbook materials
submitted to teachers fore valuation . . . 199
Appendix I V ........................... 2h9
Teacher reactions to Item 8 on Guide
Sheet Questionnaire II, classified
by grade level and preference (Text
or Experimental).....................2k9
iv
Chapter
Appendix V ..........................
Part 1. Teacher reactions to
Question i| on the individual
questionnaires included with each set
of arithmetical materials submitted
for evaluation. Classified by lesson,
grade level, and stated preference.
(Textbook or Experimental) ........
Part 2. Other suggestions made by the
teachers for changes or improvements
in arithmetic textbook materials.
Classified by grade level..........
TABLE OF TABLES
Table Page
1 Results Obtained from Teacher Questionnaire
for Part B of Investigation I ...............56
Table 1, question.1 ................... 56
Table 1, question 2 ......................57
Table 1, question 3 ................... 60
Table 1, question I4 ................... 6l
Table 1, question.5 ......................63
Table 1, question 6 ................... 65
Table 1, question 7 ................... 67
Table 1, question 8 ................... 69
Table 1, question 9 ......................70
Table 1, question 1 0 ................. 72
Table 1, question 1 1 ......... 75
Table 1, question 1 2 ................. 77
Table 1, question 1 3 ................. 78
Table 1, question l U ................. 80
Table 1, question 1 5 ................. 81
2 Analysis of Questionnaire Guide Sheet II
for Investigation II . .................. 97
3 Analysis Question 9 Guide Sheet II............97
1+ Analysis by Grade Level of the Number of
Teachers Expressing a Preference on Guide
Sheet II for the Textbook Materials ...... 98
5 Analysis by Grade Level of the Number of
Teachers Expressing a Preference on Guide
Sheet II for the Experimental Materials .... 98
6 Analysis of Questionnaire for Grade I
Lesson A .............................. 106
7 Analysis of Questionnaire for Grade I
Lesson B .............................. 107
vi
Page
8 Analysis of Questionnaire for Grade II
Lesson A ............................... 111
9 Analysis of Questionnaire for Grade II
Lesson B ............................... 112
10 Analysis of Questionnaire for Grade II
Lesson C ............................... 113
U Analysis of Questionnaire for Grade III
Lesson A ............................... 116
12 Analysis of Questionnaire for Grade III
Lesson B ............................... 117
13 Analysis of Questionnaire for Grade III
Lesson C ............................... 118
Hi Analysis of Questionnaire for Grade IV
Lesson A ............................... 121
15 Analysis of Questionnaire for Grade IV
Lesson B ............................... 122
16 Analysis of Questionnaire for Grade IV
Lesson C ............................. 123
17 Analysis of Questionnaire for Grade V
Lesson A ............................... 126
18 Analysis of Questionnaire for Grade V
Lesson B ............................... 127
19 Analysis of Questionnaire for Grade V
Lesson C ............................. 128
20 Analysis of Questionnaire for Grade VI
Lesson A ............................. 131
vii
Table Page
21 Analysis of Questionnaire for Grade VI
Lesson B ................................132
22 Analysis of Questionnaire for Grade VI
Lesson C ................................133
viii
Chapter I
INTRODUCTION AND STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Introduction
The textbook has long played an important role in American
education. This viewpoint was clearly expressed by a committee of
educators in the introduction to the Thirtieth Yearbook of the
National Society for the Study of Education.
The significant position of the textbook in the program
of American education is so generally recognized that the
Society seems to be fully justified in sponsoring a yearbook
on the theme "The Textbook." It is the textbook that in
thousands of classrooms determines the content of the
instruction as well as the teaching procedures. This
statement may not be in accord with the usual theory but it
is supported by the facts reported by supervisors and state
inspectors of schools. In view, therefore, of the important
place of the textbook in our educational practice, the
preparation and the selection of textbooks is a problem of
major importance.!
Literature^ on the history of arithmetic indicates that
throughout the years the textbook has reflected the feeling of the
times regarding the aims and methods of instruction and has served
as a constant guide and reference to teachers and pupils in planning
the work of arithmetic.
1. National Society for the Study of Education, Thirtieth Yearbook,
Part II. "The Textbook in American Education." Public School
Publishing Company, Bloomington, 111. 19319 p. 1.
2. Smith, H. E., Eaton, M. T., Dugdale, Kathleen, One Hundred Fifty
Years of Arithmetic Textbooks, Bulletin of the School of
Education, Indiana University, Vol. 31, No, 1. 19U5-