A Meta-Synthesis Study of Research on Mathematics Textbooks

Abstract

This research aimed to investigate studies examining mathematics textbooks in depth. To this end, specific keywords and criteria were entered into Google’s advanced search engine and the Council of Higher Education national thesis center to obtain articles and theses related to mathematics textbooks. The research investigated a total of 114 studies on mathematics textbooks published between 2005 and 2019. The data obtained were firstly subject to a descriptive analysis. A meta-synthesis method was then used to evaluate the studies included in this research. To analyze the objectives of the studies included in this research, we used the theoretical framework developed by Fan, Zhu and Miao (2013) to create an original classification. Results showed that studies examining opinions on mathematics textbooks (41.00%) were less than studies analyzing mathematics textbook (59.00%). Moreover, surveys were found to be the most frequentlyy used data collection tool in studies collecting opinions on mathematics textbooks, with teachers being the most commonly used participants subject to this data collection method. Additionally, the meta-synthesis analysis indicated that studies analyzing mathematics textbooks generally focused on topics specific to mathematics and on a specific section of a textbook (e.g. activities, problems) whereas those investigating opinions on mathematics textbooks concentrated on studies emphasizing the features of mathematical textbooks and the role of textbooks in learning-teaching.