The Analysis of the Content of the Textbook "Thinking and Research" of 6th Grade, Elementary School

The present research aimed at analyzing the content of the textbook entitled "Thinking and Research" of 6th Grade based on fundamental transformation document and scholars' opinions like "Matthew Lipman". According to the mentioned purpose, 4 hypotheses and questions have been developed as follows: 1. To what extent has the content of "Thinking and Research" helped the students in their manner of thinking? 2. Has it led to problem solving skills acquisition? 3. In regard with training reasoning and conclusion, does the content of the book correspond with the goals determined in fundamental transformation document? 4. Have appropriate methods been offered to respond to the students' curiosity in four areas including 'relationship with self, God, people and creation' in its content? In terms of aim, this is an applied research, ex post facto type. The research population included the entire 6th Grade teachers in District 2 of Rey city, Tehran province in the academic year of 2012-2013. In order to collect the required data, in addition to attributive and research-based method, a researcher-made questionnaire has also been drawn upon and its reliability has been measured by Cronbach's alpha (%978). The validity of the tool was also confirmed by faculty members. The obtained results were analyzed in two descriptive and inferential parts using "Kolmogorov–Smirnov test", "t-test" and Friedman test and they showed that the content of the book has been "successful" in fostering reasoning, manner of thinking, appropriate methods of responding and developing appropriate questions. However, it has been "unsuccessful" in developing "problem solving skills acquisition" and "conclusion skills" in 6th grade students.