History and philosophy of science approach analysis in chemistry textbooks: the atomic structure case

Abstract

History and Philosophy of Science approach (HPS) in atomic structure chapters was analyzed in five chemistry textbooks that are recommended in first year’s courses the at University of Barcelona. A methodological framework composed by four heterogeneous methodologies was applied in this work trying to get a more accurate explanation about the topic studied. Results have shown that a wrong image of science, disconnected from other contexts, included the scientific one, is presented in the most of the textbooks. Science in these textbooks is characterized by isolated discoveries, product of individual scientific work. This kind of scientific work’s representation is not faithful with the way in which science really works and how science really is. Besides, the textbooks analyzed emphasize experimental details while they do not go into theoretical aspects in depth.