The terminology of introductory psychology: An analysis of introductory psychology textbook glossaries

The problem. The purpose of this study was to identify the terms which represent what is being taught in the Introductory Psychology course.;Method. The glossaries of a sample of textbooks published between 1985 and 1989 were analyzed to determine which terms were stressed. Terms which appeared in 40% or more of the glossaries (20 or more of the fifty texts) were included in the listing.;Results. A total of 8,225 different terms were listed in the fifty texts. Only 408 of them were used in 20 or more texts. No single term was used in all texts; the vast majority were used in only one or two. The listing has served four functions enumerated in this study. (1) It as provided an alternative means of textbook evaluation. (2) It has equipped instructors of the course with a tool for assessing their course objectives; as well, it has provided to students a tool for review. (3) It has facilitated future research by identifying both the means for determining trends within the field of psychology and suspected developments over the past years worthy of confirmation. (4) It has specified individual terms which could be investigated thoroughly as to definition and accuracy.