A Comparative analysis of the Content of Old and New Social Education Textbooks of Elementary 4th Grade base on Education Epistemological Principles

The aim of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of content of the old and new versions of social education textbooks of old and new elementary 4th grade base on the education epistemological principles derived from structural realism. Therefore, initially the characteristics of the principles corresponding with social sphere (principles of associated with the study affair, relying on the evidence, wide view on science, relying on facts, hypotheses, contact with the needs and issues) were presented in within a theoretical framework. Then, the thematic, quantitative, inductive content analysis method was used for answering the research questions. The results of the study showed significance of the principle of relying on the facts and the high frequency of the principle of relevance with the subject under study in the mentioned textbooks. The results also indicated a significant lack of attention to principles of wide view in science and hypothesis making in both versions of the Social Education textbooks.