Changes in the Subject Matter of Geography Textbooks: 1907–1993

Abstract

This study is centred on changes in subject matter in 15 sets of British geographical textbooks from 1907–1993. Measurements of eight variables were undertaken. Major findings are: first, classic content such as physical geography has decreased about 50%, and the traditional regional geography has been replaced by the new form of local study; second, new themes such as human geography earlier in the period, humanistic geography later, and the integrated paradigm more recently, dominate the content; and third, the approach to studying geography has switched from emphasising cause–effect relations in the past to geographical enquiry at present. It is concluded that the nature of the subject, which was formerly a mixture of place knowledge, physical science and social studies, is now focused on the development of children's sense of place, the sense of the globe, and the sense of environment.

Keywords:

• GEOGRAPHICAL EDUCATION
• SUBJECT MATTER
• TEXTBOOKS
• QUANTITATIVE APPROACH