This study attempted to analyze the tendency to in quiry of 12 textbooks, including the 2015 revised elementary government-designated social studies textbooks and 11 elementary school certified social studies textbooks, based on Romey‘s analysis methods and find implications for the compilation of elementary school social studies textbooks in the future. To this end, 12 textbooks were divided into text texts, pictures and diagrams, questions at the end of the unit, and activity indicators for Unit 3 of the 1st semester of the 4th grade, and analyzed according to Romey's textbook analysis method. First, as a result of analyzing the text, 8 out of 12 textbooks showed a strong tendency to explore, and the remaining 4 textbooks were found to be authoritative textbooks. Second, as a result of the analysis of pictures and diagrams, 8 out of 12 textbooks had a strong tendency to explore, and 4 textbooks had a low tendency to explore. Third, as a result of the analysis of the questions at the end of the unit, it was found that eight textbooks had a strong tendency to explore, and one type was too strong, and three types were weak. Fourth, as a result of the analysis of activity indicators, all 12 textbooks, including state affairs, showed a strong tendency to explore, and in particular, four textbooks showed the characteristics of ideal inquiry-type textbooks. On the other hand, it was found that the tendency to explore certified social studies textbooks was generally stronger than that of government-designated social studies textbooks. The implications for the future compilation of elementary school social studies textbooks are to strengthen the textual description centered on activities so that students can naturally learn key concepts in learner-centered activities and to combine them with student analysis activities rather than simple explanations.