Evaluation Methods of University Textbooks, Their Advantages and Limitations

This research aimed to review evaluation methods of university textbooks and their advantages and limitations. For this purpose, definitions of textbooks quality and evaluative approaches to textbooks were discussed. Moreover, three major methods of evaluation, including experimental method, respondent opinion, and analysis method were explained in terms of their advantages and limitations. The experimental method deals with issues such as measuring tools, implementation challenges, limited scale, ethical considerations, and uncontrolled impacts of new factor. The respondent opinion deals with issues such as comparing different respondent opinions, quick and superficial opinions, formulating opinions, and the influence of context on opinions. Analysis method deals with issues such as selection of criteria by stakeholders, time versus thoroughness, subjectivity versus objectivity, and the relative importance of criteria. Therefore, we conclude that considering the different evaluation methods of university textbooks, and regarding the advantages and limitations of each method, textbook evaluators should choose the best evaluation method.