The Evolution of Textbook Illustrations in Probability and Statistics
A Comparison
B. Aygulhan (TU Delft - Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science)
M. Dhume – Mentor (TU Delft - Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science)
M. Skrodzki – Mentor (TU Delft - Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science)
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Abstract
Illustrations play a major role in helping students understand probability and statistics, yet there are limited studies examining how textbook illustrations evolve alongside technology. This paper compares illustrations from two editions of the same probability and statistics textbook published 34 years apart. Because the author and target audience remained the same, we were able to isolate how illustration practices changed. We analyzed 103 illustrations across three chapters using thematic analysis. We aimed to answer two questions: how did the use of illustrations change between the two editions, and how do illustration types differ depending on the topic? We found that, over time, illustrations shifted away from showing step-by-step procedures and instead focused on final results. The newer edition uses color to highlight answers, includes computer software output, and places more detailed images closer to the text. However, when comparing different topics, we found that specific topics rely on distinct types of illustrations.