This article describes readability assessment methods used in science education, summarizes reported readability estimates of science textbooks, and recommends strategies for reducing the readability load of such materials. (JMF)

The Fry Graph for Estimating Readability (Extended) and George Magginnis' formula for passages shorter than 100 words were used in an investigation of the reading levels of 18 mathematics textbooks produced for grades one through six by three major publishers. The results indicated that the readability levels of the textbooks were inaccurate. Few…

The study reported in this paper was designed to describe the differences between the reading-difficulty levels of primary textbooks used in first-semester freshman general studies courses and the reading skills of the students enrolled in those courses, and to compare the Flesch Reading Ease Formula with the SMOG Grading Formula. Separate…

Two readability formulas were applied to two math and two reading series textbooks at the fourth, fifth, and sixth grade levels to see whether the publishers' suggested reading levels were accurate. Five samples were taken from each text and compared to the publishers' suggested usage according to grade level. Results showed that although formulas…

Indexes 68 reading series or supplementary reading materials by 29 publishing companies and indicates which of them are at the same readability level. (DD)

The Horner research sought to (1) determine the readability of current first-year bookkeeping texts and compare them with a 1965 study, (2) compare students' reading achievement with the earlier study, and (3) determine the suitability of current texts based on the texts' readability levels and the students' reading level. (Author/BP)

The relationship between the reading abilities of 215 freshman composition students and the readability of their college textbooks was studied. Measures from the Nelson-Denny Reading Test and the Dale-Chall Readability Formula were used to assess the relationship between reading ability and the readability of the textbooks. Results indicated that…

A total of 10 basic science series was examined, using the Spache, Dale-Chall, Lorge, and Fry readability formulas as assessment instruments of readability. To obtain a comparative sampling of the readability of each book for each series, the books were divided into three equal parts, and the passage from the middle of each one-third part was…

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…

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)

Cites studies in which the reading level of workbooks designed to accompany basal readers has been found to be several years higher than the reading level of the basal text. (MKM)

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)

Two brief studies on community college social science textbook readability are compiled in this document. The first study compared textbook readability in 1977 to the findings of previous research. When the readability levels of community college social science textbooks were compared with the reading levels of the community college population in…