Concludes that the readability levels of textbooks can be done rapidly and accurately by computer. (RB)

Major investigations have shown that children care little for social studies as a school subject. Therefore, a closer look was taken at social studies textbooks in order to ascertain if the reading difficulty of the texts was an important cause behind the children's dislike. This study evaluated the reading levels of 41 social studies texts…

A distinction is made between the learnability and readability of text materials. Learnability refers to the extent to which new learning results from reading a passage; readability refers to the extent to which a passage is comprehended. Cleraly, comprehension can occur without new learning. Classic readability formulas use text characteristics…

Describes how teachers can use the Fry's Readability Graph to determine the reading level of textbooks in use and those being considered for adoption. Provides a listing of the reading levels of selected junior high school science texts. (JR)

Describes how to use a readability graph to determine the reading level of Biology textbooks. (MA)

Presents results of a study of two-level reading books; concludes that it seems worthwhile to use two-level readers experimentally in schools. (AEA)

Discusses reading levels of books in the sciences, and explains the use of the Readability Graph. Also reported are reading levels of selected high school physics texts. (GA)

Reported are results of a survey in which 13 series of secondary level geography textbooks were tested to determine readability. Findings indicate that there is little difference in the readability level of geography texts published for grade six and those published for the secondary level. References are included. (Author/DB)

Discusses the meaning of readability, and describes several popular methods of assessing it. Gives the results of the application of one particular method to a selection of elementary astronomy and physics texts. (Author/GA)

CALIFORNIA STATE-ADOPTED MATHEMATICS TEXTBOOKS FOR GRADES 1 THROUGH 8 WERE ANALYZED TO DETERMINE THE READABILITY LEVELS, THE AMOUNT OF EXPOSITORY AND STORY-PROBLEM READING REQUIRED, AND THE FREQUENCY OF MATHEMATICS VOCABULARY USED. READABILITY WAS DETERMINED THROUGH THE DALE-CHALL FORMULA AND THE FINDINGS OF AN EARLIER STUDY USING SPACHE'S…

A study was conducted to compare the reading levels of beginning students in a two-year community college with the readability levels of the materials they are required to read in selected courses. Subjects, all the students enrolled at an open door community college in Tampa (Florida), took the Nelson-Denny Reading test. Readability levels of…

Reviews using the cloze procedure for evaluating the readability of science textbooks. (SL)

An evaluation of elementary social studies textbooks indicates that eight factors are making textbooks harder to read. These factors are: (1) the reading level of the book and/or the range of reading levels within it; (2) long sentences and/or too many concepts within a sentence or paragraph; (3) the use of vague terms, technical vocabulary, and…