Content Analysis of Science Books for Upper Primary Stage in Jordan and Intermediate Stage in Saudi Arabia from an Islamic Perspective: Analytical Comparative Study

Abstract

This study aims to identify the current situation of science books in Jordan and Saudi Arabia from an Islamic perspective. For this end, the content analysis approach has been used through the analysis of the unit concept in the science books for the seventh, eighth and ninth grades in the academic year (2015/2016) in Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The Researchers set an instrument to investigate the dimensions of the Islamic Perspective in the targeted books. The tool consisted of (28) signs, that cover five main dimensions. The content analysis indicated that the dimension of the field “presenting Islamic evidence and Norms” came in the first place among Jordanian and Saudi books since it had 39 frequencies in the Jordanian books with the percentage of 65%, compared to 52 frequencies in the Saudi Science Books, with a percentage of 49.06%. By contrast, the other dimensions (fields) showed a low citation percentage in the Jordanian and Saudi books alike. In the last place for the Jordanian books came the dimension “Man’s relationship with the universe” with three frequencies (5%). On the other hand, in the last place of the targeted Saudi books came the dimensions “observing the scientific method in thinking” and “developing the Islamic attitudes and values” with 5 frequencies for each (4.72%).The results also showed a significant difference at (α≤0.05) between the dimensions of the Islamic perspective included in the content of science books. This difference can be attributed to the ‘grade’ variable in favor of the upper grades compared to the lower ones in the Jordanian books, and in favor of the second intermediate class in comparison with the first and third intermediate classes in Saudi books.On the other hand, the results revealed the inclusion of the Islamic perspective dimensions on the whole scale in favor of the Saudi books compared to the Jordanian ones: there were 106 frequencies in the Saudi books compared to only 60 frequencies in the Jordanian books. In light of the abovementioned results, the researchers recommend the development of the content of science books in Jordan and Saudi Arabia so that they can contribute to Islamic rooting in the scientific knowledge. The researchers also recommends that these books observe integration and follow-up in the inclusion of the Islamic perspective dimensions in science books.

Keywords: The content of science books, Islamic rooting of knowledge.