Images of Scientists in Textbooks Aimed at Students in Need of Supplemental Support – An Analysis of Adjustments

The inclusion of Nature of Science (NOS) perspectives in science teaching (including broad and nuanced images of scientists) has been suggested as a way to emphasize citizen and social justice perspectives, and is therefore important for all students. However, so far there has been little research on how, and to what extent, NOS is communicated to students who are experiencing difficulties in the science classroom. This study focuses on how the images of scientists in science textbooks (school years 7–9) are altered in adjusted textbooks aimed at students in need of supplemental support. The adjustments between general textbooks and the adjusted books are analyzed and discussed in relation to a Social Justice perspective on science education. The results show that a number of different adjustments are made between general and adjusted versions of the books: (a) Remove an entire section, (b) Remove scientist from section, (c) Remove information about scientist (e.g., characteristics and/or activities), (d) Add scientist to section, and (e) Add or emphasize information about scientist (e.g., characteristics and/or activities). In different ways, these adjustments influence the images of scientists communicated to students in need of supplemental support. The consequences of these adjustments are discussed from a social justice perspective.