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Dissertation Information for Betty Carter

NAME:
- Betty Carter
- (Alias) Betty Brogdon Carter

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- [No Discipline Recorded]

SCHOOL:
- University of Houston (USA) (1987)

ADVISORS:
- Richard Frank Abrahamson

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- None

MPACT Status: Incomplete - Inspected

Title: A content analysis of the most frequently circulated information books in three junior high libraries

Abstract: This study was designed to examine the informational books students chose to read in order to determine if there were preferences among titles, if those books met the professional criteria for evaluating juvenile nonfiction, and if they contained similar features in content, methods of presentation, and physical format.

Student library circulations from three junior high campuses in suburban Houston, Texas were monitored during the first 27 weeks of the 1985-1986 school year. Approximately 2,919 youngsters were enrolled in these three schools.

The students circulated a total of 45,224 books during the monitored period. Forty-nine percent of these circulations were nonfiction. One hundred and eighty-three informational titles, with 2,177 total circulations and a minimum of eight circulations for each title, were identified as widely circulated books. These books were examined in terms of accuracy, content, style, organization, illustrations, and format.

Young adults showed clear preferences for particular subject divisions. More circulations came from drawing and the decorative arts, while more titles were checked out which pertained to recreation and the performing arts. Other areas of interest were engineering, wild animals, pets, and folklore. Yet, reading interests were found to be more complex than such labels indicate.

Only three discernible patterns were found in the physical formats of these books. All but one title is illustrated, layout is generous, and 83% of the books have illustrated covers. No strong patterns were found in either book sizes or numbers of pages.

Several patterns were found in the authors' methods of presentation. These selections have either a neutral or conversational tone, are written with a language level appropriate for the intended audience, and exhibit good clarity.

The most common organizational pattern is that of topical divisions. Three reference aids--a Table of Contents, chapter divisions, and an index--were found in over half of the chosen titles.

The majority of the books chosen by the children in this study met the professional criteria. The one criterion not met is that informational books should model student research processes.

MPACT Scores for Betty Carter

A = 4
C = 3
A+C = 7
T = 4
G = 1
W = 4
TD = 4
TA = 0
calculated 2010-09-02 16:04:26

Advisors and Advisees Graph