Introductory Psychology Textbooks: An Objective Analysis and Update

Abstract

Following a brief summary of changes in the introductory psychology textbook market over the past 2 decades, we assessed the impact of these changes on the 37 full-length texts presently comprising this market. We compared their objective features with those of introductory texts from the recent past. Although the number of chapters has decreased, actual text length has increased. Coverage of traditional topics has lessened to include coverage of nontraditional topics such as diversity. The typical introductory text at present is in its 4th edition and has 1 White male author. The objective data and complete topic distribution analysis for all 37 texts should facilitate the text selection process for introductory psychology teachers.

Representation of I-O Psychology in Introductory Psychology Textbooks

“…This finding is positive, and we hope to find that the percentage of pages continues to increase Since Carlson and Millard's study (1984), the mean number of total pages in introductory psychology textbooks has increased, but the number of topics covered in introductory psychology textbooks has also increased, which could account for the limited increase in the percentage of pages with I-O material (Griggs, et al, 1999).…”

“…The number of authors for introductory psychology textbooks has decreased, reflecting a movement towards textbooks with a single author. Single authors could have trouble remaining current with all the topics in psychology (Griggs, et al, 1999). This inability of single authors to keep up with all areas of psychology could be one of the reasons that I-O psychology is often left out of textbooks.…”

“…At least 1.5 million students take an introductory psychology class every year in the United States (Cush & Buskist, 1997;Griggs, Jackson, Christopher, & Marek, 1999;Miller & Gentile, 1998) and Perlman and McCann (1999) report that 97% of colleges and universities offered an introductory psychology course in 1997. Students who enroll in an introductory psychology course are not necessarily psychology majors.…”

“…In addition, most introductory psychology textbooks do not include full chapter coverage of I-O psychology. Instead, the textbooks integrate the information into the text (Griggs et al, 1999). The scattering of information on I-O psychology makes it difficult for a professor to teach I-O psychology as an organized and unified topic.…”

I-O psychology in introductory psychology textbooks: A survey of authors

“…little or no space to I-O (Carlson & Millard, 1984;Griggs et al, 1999;Maynard et al, 2002b;Raley et al, 2003), and it tends to be the least assigned topic by introductory instructors (Miller & Gentile, 1998). If instructors do not have an I-O background, the lack of content presented in introductory textbooks will make it difficult for them to prepare and present lectures focused on this field.…”