چكيده لاتين
Abstract
Identity refers to the “whatness” and the nature of an individual and a society. By its nature, identity interacts with the “self” and the “other.” Identity plays an essential role in the lives of individuals and societies and gives them a sense of belonging, meaning, and purpose, and it is shaped under the influence of various factors such as history, culture, literature, geography, religion, language, customs, and shared values. Iranian identity is a complex and multilayered concept that has taken shape over thousands of years and, over time, has blended with various elements and cultures, resulting in a unique and dynamic identity. This study was conducted with the aim of analyzing the explanation of Iranian identity in the content of social studies textbooks in the first cycle of secondary education. Therefore, the main question in the present study is: how is Iranian identity introduced in the social studies textbooks of the first cycle of secondary school? The present research is qualitative in nature and has been conducted with an exploratory approach. The sample under study includes three social studies textbooks of the seventh, eighth, and ninth grades of the first cycle of secondary school. Based on the results of the qualitative content analysis, Iranian identity can be explained through three main categories, nine subcategories, and ninety-three sub-components. The main categories include Iranian identity in the ancient period (including two subcategories: social identity in ancient Iran, and ancient Iranian culture and civilization); Iranian identity in the post-Islamic period (including four subcategories: the beliefs of Iranians in the post-Islamic period, Iranian-Islamic identity in the Safavid period, Iranian-Islamic identity in the Qajar period, and Iranian-Islamic identity in the Pahlavi period); and Iranian identity in the contemporary period (including three subcategories: individual-social identity, values and norms, and Islamic values). Therefore, in the social studies textbooks of the first cycle of secondary school, Iranian identity has been introduced beginning from the ancient period and then, through its description in the post-Islamic period, reaching into contemporary times.
Keywords: Content analysis, Social studies, Iranian identity.