Using Common Core Vocabulary in Text Selection and Teaching the Introductory Course

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2004

Abstract

Recent research using textbook samples has indicated that the common core vocabulary among introductory textbooks is not very large. We analyzed the glossaries of current introductory textbooks to identify the set of common core concepts using 2 criteria, common to more than 50% and to 80% or more of the textbooks. Teachers can use these 2 sets of core concepts (415 and 155 terms, respectively) to help structure their introductory courses. We also computed individual textbook glossary size, percentage of coverage of the common core for both criteria, and glossary uniqueness. We found substantial variance among textbooks for these dimensions. These data thus comprise a valuable aid to teachers in the textbook evaluation and selection process.

Journal Title

Teaching of Psychology

Volume

31

Issue

4

First Page

265

Last Page

269

First Department

Behavioral Sciences

Link to Full Text

@ the James White Library

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