Misconceptions and alternative concepts in biology textbooks: Photosynthesis and respiration [Ideas falsas y conceptos alternativos en libros de texto de biología: Fotosíntesis y respiración]

Abstract

Textbooks have a specific importance since they are used as the main instruction material. It is important to know that whether commonly used textbooks are adequate in terms of content and presentation. This study was performed to examine whether chapters on "photosynthesis" and "respiration" in the Biology-3 textbooks, that are used in secondary schools in Turkey are sufficient in terms of scientific content or not. We provide examples of the identified misconceptions along with their more acceptable alternatives. As a result, it was determined that biology-3 textbooks are insufficient in respect of scientific content. We recommend that biology-3 textbooks must be improved by correcting the scientific content.