Similar but not the same: Comparing Norwegian and Swedish teachers’ influence on textbook selection and involvement in text discussions

Abstract

The present study compares Norwegian and Swedish teachers ? influence on textbook selection and the impact of this on teachers ? involvement in textbook discussions(discussions with colleagues and the principal). For this purpose we conducted a survey with Norwegian (n = 236) and Swedish (n = 340) teachers in grade 0 to 9(which compromises pupils at approximately ages 6 to 15). The core argument is thateven though Norway and Sweden have very similar welfare and education systems,they nevertheless differ in teachers ? influence on textbook selection and involvement in textbook discussions. Factor analysis was used to develop two new measures of teaching: influence on textbook selection and involvement in textbook discussions. First, the study shows there is a mean difference between the countries in both influence on textbook selection and involvement in textbook discussions indices. Second, OLS regression was used to demonstrate a curvilinear effect of age on influence on textbookselection in both countries. A curvilinear relationship was also found between teachingyears and the influence on textbook selection in both countries