Traditional Textbook Approach Versus Using a Literature Based Approach

This study compares a traditional method of social studies teaching to a literature based approach. The study sought to compare student attitude, achievement, and retention of the material presented. The study involved 37 fifth-graders, one class using a literature based approach and the other traditional textbook teaching. Content objectives for both classes were the same. A pre-and post- attitudinal survey was administered along with an achievement and retention test. The results indicated no significant differences in attitudes toward social studies prior to the.implementation of Ocudy or _.- t. achievement of bdth groups on. the unit test. The researcher did: calculate a significant difference in the attitude of students toward social studies after the study and a significant difference in retention of content with a literature based approach. Students in the literature based group also tended to move into higher order thinking areas of evaluatiom and comparison. Contains 32 references. Extensive appendices include the retention test, the achievement test, and the attitudinal survey, unit objectives, the equivalency t-test, sample lessons, a bibliography, culmination project, and raw scores and statistical results. (EH) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document