Content Analysis of the Photoelectric Effect Presented in Introductory Physics Textbooks

This study aimed to analyze the content of the photoelectric effect presented in introductory physics textbooks. Extracting the contents related to the photoelectric effect presented in six introductory physics textbooks widely used in Korea, the characteristics of the composition of the photoelectric effect contents were evaluated. Results show that the contents of the photoelectric effect in introductory physics textbooks differed depending on the textbook. In addition, based on the history of science related to the photoelectric effect, several textbooks did not include the history of science in the acceptance of the theory of the photoelectric effect. The photoelectric effect principle was primarily explained using the photon model, and the explanation based on the classical viewpoint, that is, the wave theory, was presented only in some textbooks. Moreover, several differences in the definition of photons and the quantum interpretation of experimental results were observed among textbooks. Furthermore, the implications for introductory physics education were discussed on the basis of the results of this study.