Mary Ann Ryan Xavier University of Louisiana New Orleans. LA
and Samuel E. Kellams Center for the Study of Higher Education University of Virginia Charlottesviiie. VA 22901
Changes in the Course Content of General Chemistry Since 1950
T h e extensive changes in t h e course c o n t e n t o f G e n e r a l C h e m i s t r y since 1950 h a v e o f t e n been discussed in t h i s J f ~ u r n a l .Several a u t h o r s have s t u d i e d these changes t h r o u g h q u e s t i o n n a i r e surveys a t v a r i o u s t i m e s since 1950.'-' T h e p r e s e n t s t u d y shows changes w h i c h a r e e v i d e n t f r o m a systematic c o n t e n t analysis o f 24 m a j o r texts used since 1950, a n d 11 A C S General C h e m i s t r y E x a m i n a t i o n s p u b l i s h e d between PROFILE OF GENERAL CHEMISTRY T E X T S 1950-1975
1950 a n d 1975. T e x t b o o k A n a l v s i s . F r o m eeneral c h e m i s t r v t e x t b o o k s p u b l i s h e d i n t h r e e b r m o r e e d i t i k s , a n d for w h i c i a t l e a s t o n e of these e d i t i o n s was p u h l i s h e d b e t w e e n 1950 a n d 1976, a sample of 24 t e x t s was chosen f o r c o n t e n t analysis (see table). T h e t e x t s were g r o u p e d b y p u b l i c a t i o n dates as follows: 1950-58 ( G r o u p I), 1959-66 ( G r o u p 111, and 1967-76 ( G r o u p 111).F i g u r e 1 shows t h e average percentage page de. of . - space . voted t e n categories o f subject m a t t e r f o r each g r o u p of texts. ACS E x a m i n a t i o n Analy.sis. T h e 11 A C S general chemistry e x a m i n a t i o n s p u b l i s h e d b e t w e e n 1950 a n d 1975 were c o n tent-analyzed a n d g r o u p e d a c c o r d i n g t o p u b l i c a t i o n dates a c c o r d i n g t o t h e same scheme u s e d for t h e textbooks. F i g u r e 2 shows t h e averaee oercentaee o f auestions on each c r o u p o f tests f o r 10 categ&i& of suh&t m a t t e r . D e t a i l s of t h e s t u d y a n d a discussion of results m a y b e o b t a i n e d f r o m t h e a u t h o r s u p o n request.
to
'Meloy, C., J. CHEM. EDUC., 31,424 (1954). 2Nechamkin, H., J. CHEM. EDUC., 38,255 (1961). 3Young, J. A,, J. CHEM. EDUC., 41,477 (1965).
'Jones, D. E., and Roswell, D. F., d. CHEM. EDUC., 50, 359 (1973). General Chemistry Textbooks Analyzed Coteqorier of Subject Matter
Author@)
Figure 1. Avenge percentage of total page space tw each category of subject maner for Groups I. 11, and ill Chemishy Texts. (Asterisks ' indicate that the differencebetween mean percentage of page space for Groups I and Ill texts is significant beyond the 95% level of confidence.) PROFILE OF A.C.S. GENERAL CHEMISTRY EXAMINATIONS 1950-1975
Edition
Year
Fifth First Second Fourth Second First First First
1949 1949 1950 1951 1953 1957 1957 1958
First Seventh Fourth Fourth Fourth First Third Second
1959 1960 1963 1965 1966 1966 1966 1966
Third Third Sixth Third Third Finh Fifth Fifth
1969 1970 1972 1973 1975 1976 1976 1976
Group ITexts
Hoimes King and Caldwell Timm Hopkin%and Bailar Pauling Wood and Keenan Sienko and Plane Quagliano Group 11 Texts
Nebergail. et al. Ehret King and Caldwell Selwood Timm Masterton and Slowinski Keenan and Wood Sienko and Plane
m m
2 20
-
" c 0
2
,o
m
e 2
Group 111Texts
0
Sfrvc Thermo Equl- Dercr Organ>c S t o m Sto#ch#- Acldr EleClrO- N ~ c l e ~ r at m e f r y ond chem Chem ond ond ihbr,um lnorp ond ~ondmp ~ l n e t l c r s~ochemMofter 6o.ier
Cale~oriesof Subject Mottar for each catwow Fiaure 2. Aueraoe - .Dwcernaoe - of ouestions . - . of subiect matter tar Grouos and IIi ACS Examinations. IAstwisks ' indicate that the difference , I. II..~ uelrern meon perccntnqe 01 swst ons lor G r o ~ p sI ano exam nal on3 ir ,= gnhcant oevono the 95". evel of con1dence.
.
128 1 Journal of Chemical Education
Quagliano Pauling King and Galdwell Masterton and Slowinski Monimer Nebergall, etal. Keenan. el al. Sienko and Plane -
