An Analysis of Analogies in the Chemistry Domain of Middle School Science Textbooks Developed under the 2007 Revised National Curriculum

摘要

In this study, the analogies in the chemistry domain of middle school science textbooks developed under the 2007 revised National Curriculum were analyzed. A total of 235 analogies were found in 27 middle school science textbooks analysed, which means that one analogy per 10 pages was used on average. The number of analogies found in each textbook considerably varied depending on both publishing company and chemistry domain. Functional analogies, verbal and pictorial analogies, analogies with abstract target and concrete analog, enriched analogies, everyday contexts analogies, student-centered analogies, and analogies with low systematicity were frequently used. On presenting the analogies in the textbooks, the term analogy and description about the limitations of the analogies were rarely mentioned. In comparison with the analogies in the science textbooks developed under the 7th National Curriculum, the frequency of analogies per page was increased. There were positive changes in the aspects of representation, extent of mapping and artificiality. No differences, however, were found in the patterns of the other aspects.