Abstract
This article presents an analysis of how scientists are portrayed in the Lebanese national science textbooks. The purpose of this study was twofold. First, to develop a comprehensive analytical framework that can serve as a tool to analyze the image of scientists portrayed in educational resources. Second, to analyze the image of scientists portrayed in the Lebanese national science textbooks that are used in Basic Education. An analytical framework, based on an extensive review of the relevant literature, was constructed that served as a tool for analyzing the textbooks. Based on evidence-based stereotypes, the framework focused on the individual and work-related characteristics of scientists. Fifteen science textbooks were analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative measures. Our analysis of the textbooks showed the presence of a number of stereotypical images. The scientists are predominantly white males of European descent. Non-Western scientists, including Lebanese and/or Arab scientists are mostly absent in the textbooks. In addition, the scientists are portrayed as rational individuals who work alone, who conduct experiments in their labs by following the scientific method, and by operating within Eurocentric paradigms. External factors do not influence their work. They are engaged in an enterprise which is objective, which aims for discovering the truth out there, and which involves dealing with direct evidence. Implications for science education are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abd-El-Khalick, F. (2002). Images of nature of science in middle grade science trade books. The New Advocate, 15(2), 121–127.
Abd-El-Khalick, F., Waters, M., & Le, A.-P. (2008). Representations of nature of science in high school chemistry textbooks over the past four decades. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 45, 835–855.
Abd-El-Khalick, F., Myers, J. Y., Summers, R., Brunner, J., Waight, N., Wahbeh, N., Zeineddin, A. A. and Belarmino, J. (2017), A longitudinal analysis of the extent and manner of representations of nature of science in U.S. high school biology and physics textbooks. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 54(1), 82–120.
Ahmad, Z. (2007). Al-Zahrawi—the father of surgery. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 77(Suppl. 1), A83.
Aikenhead, G. (2001). Integrating western and aboriginal sciences: cross-cultural science teaching. Research in Science Education, 31, 337–355.
Aikenhead, G., & Lima, K. E. C. (2009). Science, culture and citizenship: cross-cultural science education. Revista Brasileira de Pesquisa em Educação em Ciências, 9(3).
Alshamrani, S. M. (2008). Context, accuracy, and level of inclusion of nature of science concepts in current high school physics textbooks. Fayetteville, AR: University of Arkansas.
Archer, L., DeWitt, J., Osborne, J., Dillon, J., Willis, B., & Wong, B. (2010). “doing” science versus “being” a scientist: examining 10/11-year-old schoolchildren’s constructions of science through the lens of identity. Science Education, 94(4), 617–639.
Archer, L., DeWitt, J., Osborne, J., Dillon, J., Willis, B., & Wong, B. (2013). ‘not girly, not sexy, not glamorous’: primary school girls’ and parents’ constructions of science aspirations. Pedagogy, Culture & Society, 21, 171–194.
Baldu, M. (2006). Young children’s perceptions of scientists: a preliminary study. Educational Research, 48(1), 121–132.
Bang, E., Wong, S. S., & Jeffery, T. D. (2014). High school students’ stereotypic images of scientists in South Korea. Mevlana International Journal of Education, 4(1), 96–112.
Bell, R. L., Blair, L. M., Crawford, B. A., & Lederman, N. G. (2003). Just do it! Impact of a science apprenticeship program on high school students’ understandings of the nature of science and scientific inquiry. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 40, 487–509.
Binns, I. C., & Bell, R. L. (2015). Representation of scientific methodology in secondary science textbooks. Science & Education, 24, 913–936.
BouJaoude, S. (2000). Science teacher preparation in Lebanon: reality and future directions. In S. K. Abell (Ed.), Science teacher education: an international perspective. Dordrecht: Kluwer.
BouJaoude, S. (2002). Balance of scientific literacy themes in science curricula: the case of Lebanon. International Journal of Science Education, 24(2), 139–156.
Bowtell, E. (1996). Educational stereotyping: Children’s perceptions of scientists: 1990’s style. Investigating: Australian Primary and Junior Science Journal, 12(1), 4–10.
Brooks, K. (2008). A content analysis of physical science textbooks with regard to the nature of science and ethnic diversity (Unpublished Doctor of Education Dissertation). University of Houston.
Cakmakci, G., Tosun, O., Turgut, S., Orenler, S., Sengul, K., & Top, G. (2011). Promoting an inclusive image of scientists among students: towards research evidence-based practice. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 9, 627–655.
Campanile, M. F., Lederman, N. G., & Kampourakis, K. (2015). Mendelian genetics as a platform for teaching about nature of science and scientific inquiry: the value of textbooks. Science & Education, 24(1–2), 205–225.
Center for Educational Research and Development (CERD) (1997). The Lebanese science curriculum. Lebanon: CERD. Accessed online http://www.crdp.org/en/desc-evaluation/25299-%20Curriculum%20of%20Science
Chambers, D. W. (1983). Stereotypic images of the scientist: the draw-a-scientist test. Science Education, 67(2), 255–265.
Charles, M., & Grusky, D. (2004). Occupational ghettos: the worldwide segregation of women and men. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
Chiappetta, E. L., & Fillman, D. A. (2007). Analysis of five high school biology textbooks used in the United States for inclusion of the nature of science. International Journal of Science Education, 29, 1847–1868.
Chiappetta, E. L., Sethna, G. H., & Fillman, D. A. (1991). A quantitative analysis of high school chemistry textbooks for scientific literacy themes and expository learning aids. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 28(10), 939–952.
Christidou, V., Hatzinikita, V., & Samaras, G. (2012). The image of scientific researchers and their activity in Greek adolescents’ drawings. Public Understanding of Science, 21(5), 626–647.
Christidou, V., Bonoti, F., & Kontopoulou, A. (2016). American and Greek children’s visual images of scientists: enduring or fading stereotypes? Science & Education, 25, 497–522.
DeWitt, J., Archer, L., & Osborne, J. (2013). Nerdy, brainy and normal: children’s and parents’ constructions of those who are highly engaged with science. Research in Science Education, 43(4), 1455–1476.
Dussel, E. (2000). Europe, modernity, and eurocentrism. Nepantla: Duke University Press.
Farland-Smith, D. (2009). How does culture shape students’ perceptions of scientists? Cross-national comparative study of American and Chinese elementary students. Journal of Elementary Science Education, 21(4), 23–42.
Farland-Smith, D., Finson, K., Boone, W. J., & Yale, M. (2014). An investigation of media influences on elementary students representations of scientists. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 25(3), 355–366.
Finson, K. D. (2002). Drawing a scientist: what we do and do not know after fifty years of drawings. School Science and Mathematics, 102, 335–345.
Ford, D. J. (2006). Representations of science within children’s trade books. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 43(2), 214–235.
Fung, Y. Y. H. (2002). A comparative study of primary and secondary school students’ images of scientists. Research in Science and Technological Education, 20(2), 199–213.
Germann, P. J., Haskins, S., & Auls, S. (1996). Analysis of nine high school biology laboratory manuals: promoting scientific inquiry. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 33, 475–499.
Gibbs, A., & Lawson, A. E. (1992). The nature of scientific thinking as reflected by the work of biologists and by biology textbooks. American Biology Teacher, 54(3), 137–152.
Guisasola, J., Almudí, J. M., & Furió, C. (2005). The nature of science and its implications for physics textbooks: the case of classical magnetic field theory. Science & Education, 14, 321–338.
Irez, S. (2009). Nature of science as depicted in Turkish biology textbooks. Science Education, 93(3), 422–447.
Jiang, F. (2012). The inclusion of the nature of science and its elements in recent popular science writing for adults and young adults. (Unpublished Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation). University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Khishfe, R. (2008). The development of seventh graders’ views of nature of science. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 45, 470–496.
Khishfe, R., & Abd-El-Khalick, F. (2002). Influence of explicit and reflective versus implicit inquiry-oriented instruction on sixth graders’ views of nature of science. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 39, 551–578.
Knain, E. (2001). Ideologies in science textbooks. International Journal of Science Education, 23(3), 319–329.
Koren, P., & Bar, V. (2009). Science and it’s images—promise and threat: from classic literature to contemporary students’ images of science and “the scientist”. Interchange, 40(2), 141–163.
Lebanese Constitution (1995). Retrieved from http://www.presidency.gov.lb/English/LebaneseSystem/Documents/Lebanese%20Constitution.pdf
Lederman, N. G. (2004). Syntax of nature of science within inquiry and science instruction. In L. B. Flick & N. G. Lederman (Eds.), Scientific inquiry and nature of science (pp. 301–317). Dordrecht: Kluwer.
Lederman, N. G., Abd-El-Khalick, F., Bell, R. L., & Schwartz, R. S. (2002). Views of nature of science questionnaire: toward valid and meaningful assessment of learners’ conceptions of nature of science. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 39, 497–521.
Lee, Y. (2007). How do the high school biology textbooks introduce the nature of science? (Unpublished Doctor of Education Dissertation). University of Houston.
Long, M., & Steinke, J. (1996). The thrill of everyday science: images of science and scientists on children’s educational science programmes in the United States. Public Understanding of Science, 5(2), 101–119.
Lumpe, A. T., & Beck, J. (1996). A profile of high school biology textbooks using scientific literacy recommendations. The American Biology Teacher, 58, 147–153.
Maoldomhnaigh, M., & Hunt, A. (1988). Some factors affecting the image of the scientists drawn by older primary school pupils. Research in Science and Technological Education, 6, 159–166.
Mason, C. L., Kahle, J. B., & Gardner, A. L. (1991). Draw-a-scientist test: future implications. School Science and Mathematics, 91, 193–198.
McAdam, J. E. (1990). The persistent stereotype: children’s images of scientists. Physics Education, 25(2), 102.
McComas, W. F., AlMazroa, H., & Clough, M. P. (1998). The nature of science in science education: an introduction. Science & Education, 7, 511–532.
McDonald, C. V., & Abd-El-Khalick, F. (2017). Representations of nature of science in school science textbooks: a global perspective. New York: Routledge.
Mead, M., & Metraux, R. (1957). Image of the scientist among high-school students: a pilot study. Science, 26, 384–390.
Mignolo, W. D. (2002). The geopolitics of knowledge and the colonial difference. The South Atlantic Quarterly, 101(1), 57–96.
Monhardt, M. (2003). The image of the scientist through the eyes of Navajo children. Journal of American Indian Education, 42(3), 25–39.
Newton, L. D., & Newton, D. P. (1998). Primary children’s conceptions of science and the scientist: is the impact of a national curriculum breaking down the stereotype? International Journal of Science Education, 20(9), 1137–1149.
Ninnes, P. (2000). Representations of indigenous knowledge in secondary school science textbooks in Australia and Canada. International Journal of Science Education, 22(6), 603–617.
Ogan-Bekiroglu, F. (2007). To what degree do currently used physics textbooks meet the expectations? Journal of Science Teacher Education, 18, 599–628.
Phillips, M. C. (2006). A content analysis of sixth-grade, seventh-grade, and eighth-grade science textbooks with regard to the nature of science (Unpublished Doctor of Education Dissertation). University of Houston.
Ramnarain, U. D., & Chanetsa, T. (2016). An analysis of south African grade 9 natural sciences textbooks for their representation of nature of science. International Journal of Science Education, 38, 922–933.
Rodriguez, M. A., & Niaz, M. (2004). A reconstruction of structure of the atom and its implications for general physics textbooks: a history and philosophy of science perspective. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 13(3), 409–424.
Sabra, A. I. (1989). The optics of Ibn Al-Haytham. In Books I–II–III: On direct vision. London: The Warburg Institute, University of London.
Samaras, G., Bonoti, F., & Chistidou, V. (2012). Exploring children’s perceptions of scientists through drawings and interviews. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 1541–1546.
Schibeci, R. A., & Sorensen, I. (1983). Elementary school children’s perceptions of scientists. School Science and Mathematics, 83(1), 14–19.
She, H. C. (1998). Gender and grade level differences in Taiwan students’ stereotypes of science and scientists. Research in Science and Technological Education, 16(2), 125–135.
Sjøberg, S. (2000). Science and scientists: the SAS study. Retrieved November 23, 2008, from http://folk.uio.no/sveinsj/SASweb.htm
Snively, G., & Corsiglia, J. (2001). Discovering indigenous science: Implications for science education. Science Education, 85, 6–34.
Song, J., & Kim, K. S. (1999). How Korean students see scientists: the images of the scientist. International Journal of Science Education, 21(9), 957–977.
Stanley, W. B., & Brickhouse, N. W. (2001). Teaching sciences: the multicultural question revisited. Science Education, 85, 6–34.
UNESCO International Bureau of Education (2006). Lebanon: Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programmes. (Country profile prepared for the Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2007). Geneva: UNESCO. Accessed online http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001480/148027e.pdf
Vesterinen, V.-M., Aksela, M., & Lavonen, J. (2013). Quantitative analysis of representations of nature of science in Nordic upper secondary school textbooks using framework of analysis based on philosophy of chemistry. Science & Education, 22, 1839–1855.
Villar, P., & Guppy, N. (2015). Gendered science: representational dynamics in British Columbia science textbooks. Canadian Journal of Education, 38(3), 1–24.
Wang, H. A. (1998). Science textbook studies reanalysis: teachers "friendly" content analysis methods?. ERIC Clearinghouse.
Wilkinson, J. (1999). A quantitative analysis of physics textbooks for scientific literacy themes. Research in Science Education, 29(3), 385–399.
Yacoubian, H. A., & BouJaoude, S. (2010). The effect of reflective discussions following inquiry-based laboratory activities on students’ views of nature of science. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 47, 1229–1252.
Yacoubian, H. A., Hur, S. J., Lei, Y., Freed, C., Phillips, L. M. & Norris, S. P. (2011). Teaching scientific inquiry using science trade books. Alberta Science Education Journal, 41, 16–21.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yacoubian, H.A., Al-Khatib, L. & Mardirossian, T. Analysis of the Image of Scientists Portrayed in the Lebanese National Science Textbooks. Sci & Educ 26, 513–528 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-017-9908-0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-017-9908-0