This study sought to determine whether the cloze percentage score which Bormuth identified as corresponding to the instructional level for intermediate grade pupils is applicable to more sophisticated students. Reading grade equivalent scores were obtained for 92 eleventh graders and 84 post-high school students on a standardized reading…

The FORCAST readability index was developed and cross validated on technical job reading materials and job candidates. Several structural properties of passages were related to passage readability defined as the lowest measured reading grade level at which half the readers met a standard cloze criterion on the passage. The simple, single variable…

Primary teachers, aides, and volunteers participated in an inservice training program based on: prerequisites of reading; teaching materials and techniques; diagnostic tests of reading skills; beginning reading; and developing comprehension. Evaluative procedures included: (1) a pre and posttest on factual content, (2) showing videotape of a…

A computer program called TEXAN (Textual Analysis of Language Samples) was developed for use in calculating frequency of characters, words, punctuation units, and stylistic variables. Its usefulness in determining readability levels was examined in an analysis of language samples from 20 elementary tradebooks used as supplementary reading…

The purpose of this study was to determine whether: (1) a new basal reading series (N Series) contained a larger variety of sentence patterns in beginning reading materials than a traditional reading series (T Series); (2) the variety of language patterns was systematically increased in beginning reading materials within either series; (3) the T…

This study attempted to validate both the Fry-Kernel Distance Theory and the De Pierro findings, in determining the suitability of text material for the students to be instructed. First-year community college students were presented with sentences arranged in pairs, each representing two of four prescribed types. Subjects were to select the harder…

Reports on a study that determined the readability of a representative number of study habit books used in college reading and study skills courses and then compared their readability with the reading ability of the students who use them. (HOD)

A number of linguistic problems identified through analysis of primary mathematics texts are discussed. These include vocabulary, readability and perception. (MP)

This speech, delivered to the General Session of the National Association of College Stores Annual Meeting, discusses the change in student attitudes and the consequent need for quality textbooks with sensible readability and human interest levels. (JMD)

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

Identifies strategies used by 24 tenth grade students to comprehend a short story, and relates the strategies to ability, interest, and writing style. (AA)

To explore the readability of different levels of accounting textbooks, samples were selected from three high school, three vocational, and three college textbooks. The statistical tests conducted indicated that mean reading levels increased in difficulty as grade levels increased and that reading levels were considerably below grade levels of the…

A study of physical and pedagogical characteristics, determination of basal difficulty, and story contents in West German and United States reading texts shows that basal readers are more often similar than dissimilar, perhaps having undergone similar developmental changes across cultures. (JM)

Reports research which shows that a wide gap exists between basal reader language and children's level of oral language development. (JM)

Offers an analogy between passing a written driving test and actually driving a vehicle, and evaluating textbooks by the number of syllables in words and by sentence length and the students' ability to actually read the textbook. Provides an open textbook inventory to evaluate how well students interact with the book. (JC)