An analysis of the visual representation of redox reactions and related content in Brazilian secondary school chemistry textbooks

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze visual representations of redox reactions and related content in four Brazilian secondary school chemistry textbooks. The study aimed to identify which representations were used and to evaluate how these representations were linked to one another and to the main text. Data were analyzed regarding representational levels and the degree of relatedness between the different levels and the main text. Further analysis focused on the intended function of images and which curriculum orientation they indicated. The sample was comprised of 286 visual representations. The results showed that most of the visual representations merely served a decorative function and were not explicitly used to further understanding of the content in the main text. The findings indicated that the textbooks in this sample prioritized two separate levels of representation: The macroscopic and the symbolic. Only a few submicroscopic and multilevel representations could be found. The textbook illustrations indicated a strong “structure of the discipline” orientation of the curriculum, which was illustrated with orientations taken from everyday life, technology, and industry. It emphasizes the importance of using illustrations in textbooks, because of its influence on the construction of concepts, in particular the concept of redox reactions. Based on this research, it is possible for chemistry teachers to observe the limitation of these materials and carefully select the textbook used in their curricula. Moreover, the results can contribute to improving the quality of textbooks.

Keywords

• chemistry textbook
• levels of respresentation
• redox reactions
• textbook analysis
• visual representation