The variables used in most readability formulas consist of counts of language elements which highly relate to comprehension scores on passages of a wide range of difficulty. The variables most often used are some measure of word difficulty and yield an index score representing the style difficulty of the passages to which they are applied…

Research was conducted to show that the computer can assist human beings in determining which words in a Navy training manual need further clarification. The computer scanned a chapter of a training manual (9800 words long) and separated all words of two or more syllables into an "assumed audience vocabulary" (i.e., words the audience would be…

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…

THE CLOZE READABILITY PROCEDURE FOR EVALUATING THE COMPREHENSION DIFFICULTY OF WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS WAS STUDIED. RESEARCH BEARING ON THE VALIDITY, THE FORMAL CHARACTERISTICS, AND THE APPLICATION OF THE CLOZE READABILITY PROCEDURE ARE REVIEWED. THE RESEARCH ON VALIDITY IS ARRANGED UNDER THE FOLLOWING TOPICS--MEASUREMENT OF POST-READING…

A simple, new method for determing the readability level of prose passages in reading material for children is described and discussed. The method, which assigns a value to each noun in selected passages on the basis of its frequency level on standard word-frequency charts, correlated highly in a number of studies with independent estimates of the…

Suggests that books be evaluated by a cliche count which might show what is actually on the page, explain at least some of the riddles of the child and the book, and clear away some of the partisan fog from book selection. (HOD)

Considers some strategies for helping secondary content area teachers find effective ways to teach their students specific techniques for handling the materials they have to read. (MKM)

Reports study which found that some high school students were far from any reasonable level of mastery of the ability to comprehend directions on potentially hazardous household products. (JM)

Presents guidelines for evaluating computer trade books for children. Includes results for 47 books evaluated using the "Yawn index." (HTH)

Two studies performed in secondary schools and at the University of Ottawa investigated the usefulness of Georges Henry's 1975 short readability formula, designed specifically for French, for evaluating instructional texts. (MSE)

Finds that although pictures do not seem to increase comprehension of the material, students prefer texts with them. Concludes that pictures provide no cognitive benefit but do have an affective impact on students, the nature of which was not determined by the research. (SRT)

Textbook publishers are under attack for producing books that are superficial in content and oversimplified or confusing in language. They respond that their products are the inevitable result of applying the many textbook selection formulas to book production. Efforts by educators to improve textbooks are currently being organized. (PGD)

Elementary and secondary social studies teachers are first asked to rate their classroom textbooks concerning readability, interest level, quality and quantity of illustrations, clarity, and organization. Techniques that they can use to enrich each of these areas are then presented. (RM)

Ninth-grade social studies students were asked to paraphrase a text excerpt. Results showed that students encounter the most serious reading difficulties when texts fail to take into account students' lack of background information and thus seriously underwrite the ideas. What authors and editors should do to improve textbooks is discussed.

Compares the readability of state drivers' manuals, noting that several educational agencies have issued instructional guides to be used with the manuals and mentions how a spelling test can be an indicator of student attitudes. (HOD)