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The Philosophical Reflection on Textbook Research

Author: ZhengQingDan
Tutor: KongFanZhe
School: Northeast Normal University
Course: Curriculum and Pedagogy
Keywords: Textbook Research Methodology Reflection Philosophical underpinnings Value orientation
CLC: G632.3
Type: Master's thesis
Year: 2009
Downloads: 385
Quote: 3
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Abstract

Although the scholars have different views on the definition and nature of the textbook, no one can underestimate the role of the textbook. Textbook is a major learning resource for students at primary and secondary school, and its importance is not in question. Recently, because of the implementation of new curriculum reforms, make the textbook research have further development, which not only expands education and curriculum research area, but pours the new vitality into reforms and innovation for basic education.Compared with former textbook research before curriculum reform, current studies advanced, not only in numbers but also in quality. However, in the process of development, there are some problems focusing on the relative concentration of the theme and content, the imbalance of research methods and so on. Although the domestic and foreign scholars have been aware of these problems, however, few scholars analyze the causes. As we all know, philosophy is the foundation of educational research, textbook research is no exception. Whether researchers realize the influence of their own philosophy, as the way of human thinking, the philosophy is always instructing textbook research. Philosophy is affecting the textbook research starting point, research mentality, research method, research depth and breadth. Therefore, if we want to find the causes of issue and enhance the quality of textbook research, we must pay great attention to philosophy reflection on our county’s textbook research, which is helpful for current textbook research in our country in depth and breadth, and provide us inspiration on philosophy and methodology.This paper sees methodology as a breakthrough point, analyze and reflect the conclusion of domestic textbook research at present. The concrete research mentality is from the dimension of textbook research method, seeks the philosophy underpinnings and the value orientation of textbook research. On macroscopic, we discussed the philosophy underpinnings from positivism, critique theory, phenomenology, hermeneutics, post- modernism, and stressed on analyzing the influence each philosophy ideology, unfolds textbook research’s application condition through textbook research cases. On microscopic, we discussed the research tendency and the value orientation of textbook research, stressed on analyzing the research subject and method. In this part of paper, I selected "curriculum, teaching material and method "(2004-2008 years) as major research samples, which has been recognized as authority publicly in academic circles. Take 79 textbook research articles as representation, conducts an Empirical Study. Because of the elementary education curriculum reforms and gradually transformation of education thought from 2004 to 2008, at the same time, our country’s textbook research had significant transformation and moved towards a brand-new area.Take methodology as the research dimension, and carry on the reflection of textbook study in the view of philosophy, we discovered that compared with before textbook research, this period of research (from 2004 to 2008)had the significant changes. And its progressive mainly displays in: (1)The philosophical underpinnings of textbook research on the foundation of Marxist dialectical materialism has widely absorbed phenomenology, hermeneutics and post-modernism and so on, which causes the multiplex tendency of philosophical underpinnings of textbook research;(2)The researchers have paid more attention on textbook research gradually;(3)Participates in research from curriculum scholars to teachers, has promoted the textbook research universality;(4)Textbook research angles began to shift into practical orientation;(5)The“grass-roots-type”research on textbook is developing rapidly.While the main problems that exist in textbook research are:Firstly, the philosophical underpinnings of research is not very clear, the traditional methods of thinking of education research can not be neglected in textbook research.Secondly, the value orientation textbook research focuses on the value of experience-theoretical analysis and science-technology orientation, practice-oriented study is developing. Textbook is an importance of media courses from ideal curriculum to students learned course, which determines the textbook’s practicality in itself, so the textbook research should be more concerned about practice and application levels. However, at present, studies have a certain bias in value orientation, experience-theoretical analysis and science-technology orientation domain the textbook research.In addition, due to the relative concentration on research subject and method in application, that leads the increase of conclusion of some textbook research.Throughout the textbook studies of 20 years, we found that in the late 80’s, scholars analyzed textbooks from perspective of sociology and political science; in the late 90’s, because of the post-modernist ideas affect, they have begun to focus on critical and Construction of the textbook; however in the beginning of this century, because of new curriculum reform and curriculum reflection, the front-line teachers participate in the study of textbooks, make the practice-oriented research gradually. Despite the development of textbook study, the issues still exist in research can not be neglected.Therefore I put forward the following suggestions form the view of philosophy.First, we should have a clear purpose and pursuit of study, which is for the development of textbooks themselves; or for helping researchers and users (teachers and students) understand the textbook.Second, from a philosophical level of analysis, the ideal textbook study should follow these aspects: 1.Clear the research level of textbook research. 2. To establish the philosophical underpinnings of textbook research. 3. Integrate the research methods. 4. Focus on the reflection of textbook research.I hope this paper will enable people to have a better understanding of the textbook research, pay more attention to textbook research, so as to make some contribution for promoting textbook research.

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