Semantic, thematic or unrelated? A study about how English textbooks for Upper Secondary School present new vocabulary

Abstract: This study is an analysis of how four textbooks, directed at students in upper secondary school, present new vocabulary: in semantic sets, in themes or in unrelated groups. It aims to show how vocabulary is presented, whether the way it is organized is in agreement with the pedagogical implications found in previous research. It also aims to somewhat facilitate teachers’ evaluation of textbooks. The material consists of four books published after 2012, since there was a new Swedish curriculum in 2011 (Gy11). The possible effects of this change should therefore not affect the results in this study. For analyzing these books, I have used content analysis with mixed modes, that is, with traits from both quantitative and qualitative usage of content analysis. Many researchers favor the thematic organization of new vocabulary. It has shown to help learners retrieve words from memory more easily. Presenting new vocabulary in unrelated sets neither helps nor impedes learning. The semantic organization has shown to impede learning. Despite this, researchers claim that textbooks primarily present new vocabulary in semantic sets. However, this study shows different results than those previously conducted. This could depend on, for example, the possibly different traditions in Swedish schools or that the text types might be different from those observed in previous research. This study clearly shows that textbooks do not follow the directions provided by research. Even though Skolverket clearly states that teachers have to be up to date with research, many teachers do not have enough time to evaluate textbooks. Textbook writers however, have to keep in mind what sells and what does not. The significant differences between the results in this study and others lead to the conclusion that more research is needed in the field.