Abstract

This study investigated the changes in public school social studies textbooks in general period of Iran (fourth and fifth grades) based on the emphasis on Facione critical thinking skills in the past three decades. In this study, content analysis of qualitative and quantitative methods was used to evaluate changes in textbook. For this purpose, the unit of analysis was sentence.

Due to the limited population that includes all social studies textbooks from the years 1984-1985 to 2014-2015of fourth and fifth grades (a total of 9 books) sampling and sample of the population selected for the study had not been made. The data gathering instruments were self-made content analysis checklist based on Facione elements and validity was determined by experts of education science. As well as the reliability of the instrument was calculated by the Ali Delaware formula showed 85% agreement coefficient.

Overall, findings indicate that the social studies books in fourth and fifth grades of primary school, in terms of attention to other critical thinking skills were written in the last three decades is very weak. 90 new books written especially given the changes in the national curriculum document and document fundamental change was not anticipated and expected. Meanwhile fifth grade social studies book in terms of attention to other critical thinking skills (0%) compared to the fourth grade social studies books had poorer conditions.

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