Masters Theses

Date of Award

12-1981

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major Professor

A. Paul Wishart

Committee Members

John Ray, James Carter

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify, collect, and evaluate industry-produced energy education materials. Special emphasis was placed on identifying any biases in the materials which might have undue influence on students' energy attitudes.

Energy industries, utilities, and their trade associations were chosen, and letters were sent requesting sets of energy materials. Of the 96 letters sent requesting materials, 46 responses were received; 33 respondents sent materials. Approximately 60 percent of the utilities, 20 percent of the industries, 20 percent of the industries, and 20 percent of the trade associations supplied materials for evaluation.

An Evaluation Guide was developed and checked for reliability using samples from the material received. The Evaluation Guide, having been found reliable, was then used to evaluate 37 examples of the materials. Thirteen teacher's guides with student materials, seven comic books, ten pamphlets, three coloring books, two booklets of experiments, a game, and a poster were evaluated.

The majority of the materials were recently produced, and most were supplementary rather than complete units on energy. Intended grade levels were available on the teacher's guides but not the other types of materials. Reading, technical, and interest levels tended to correlate with stated grade levels. Teacher's guides also had realistic and attainable objectives.

Most of the materials contained current information, but only about half of the materials presented alternative views. Topical issues were treated fairly in most of the materials. The materials tended to be free of blatant advertising and promotion of company policies.

The production quality of the materials was generally good, and instruction guidelines were clear. Some of the teacher's guides provided means for measuring student outcomes, but very few encouraged teachers to evaluate the materials.

It was concluded that local utilities, along with the largest energy companies and their associations, were the most likely sources of materials. Overall, industries', utilities', and trade associations' materials did not present sufficient alternatives to their company policies, but the materials are relatively free of promotion of company products, policies, or points of view. Most of the materials handled controversial subjects fairly well and were not overtly biased. With careful screening by teachers, industry-produced materials could contribute variety and different perspectives to a teacher's energy education resources.

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