COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF 8TH GRADE HISTORY TEXTBOOKS USED IN THE TURKIC REPUBLICS: A QUALITATIVE DOCUMENT ANALYSIS

Authors : İsa Aliç, Barış Çiftçi, Ayşegül Dönmez

Pages : 231-247

Doi:10.17244/eku.1840545

View : 51 | Download : 219

Publication Date : 2025-12-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of 8th-grade history textbooks used in the Turkic Republics, including Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Utilizing a qualitative research design, the study employed document analysis to examine the distribution of content, language and presentation characteristics, visual design elements, and assessment-evaluation practices within the textbooks. A total of twelve textbooks officially approved by the respective ministries of education were analyzed through a criterion-based evaluation rubric developed in line with expert opinions. The findings reveal significant differences among the textbooks regarding their historical scope and pedagogical orientations. Textbooks in Türkiye and TRNC focus exclusively on national history, whereas those in Azerbaijan demonstrate a more balanced structure, integrating national, Turkic, and world history content. Visual and text design features indicate that student-centered approaches are more prominent in Azerbaijan and TRNC textbooks, while textbooks from some countries, such as Uzbekistan, predominantly present dense block texts that may hinder student engagement. Additionally, substantial disparities were found in assessment practices, with Türkiye offering a wider variety of question types targeting higher-order thinking skills. Overall, the study concludes that although the Turkic Republics share a common historical legacy, their history education practices diverge considerably due to varying national policies and pedagogical priorities. It is recommended that history textbooks be improved in terms of content balance, visual design, and assessment strategies to better support the development of historical thinking skills and a comprehensive historical perspective among students.
Keywords : Tarih eğitimi, Türk Cumhuriyetleri, Tarih ders kitapları, doküman analizi.

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