Return-Path: <root> Received: (from root@localhost) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) id f7VBqPZ09150 for health-archive@nifl.gov; Fri, 31 Aug 2001 07:52:25 -0400 (EDT) Resent-Message-Id: <200108311152.f7VBqPZ09150@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from f04n01.cac.psu.edu (f04s01.cac.psu.edu [128.118.141.31]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with ESMTP id f1JG6s906937 for <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov>; Mon, 19 Feb 2001 11:06:54 -0500 (EST) Received: from [146.186.96.31] (rack31.ed.psu.edu [146.186.96.31]) by f04n01.cac.psu.edu (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id LAA46044 for <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov>; Mon, 19 Feb 2001 11:06:54 -0500 X-Sender: blv1@email.psu.edu Message-Id: <v04210101b6b6f4a46f23@[146.186.96.31]> Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2001 11:06:54 -0500 To: nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov From: Barb Van Horn <blv1@psu.edu> Subject: NLA crosspost: readability Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" Resent-From: root@literacy.nifl.gov Resent-Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 07:52:25 -0400 Resent-To: health-archive@nifl.gov Status: O Content-Length: 3802 Lines: 89 Dear subscribers, The following is cross-posted from the NLA list. I thought that some of you may be interested since the topic of readability has been brought up often on this list, specifically regarding health information. Hope you find it useful. >A woman (curriculum designer) who was on my staff at the Business Council for >Effective Literacy knows a fair amount about readability formulas and we >found ourselves conversing recently about this as a result of questions I've >seen posted on listservs. I am sharing below some information she has >offered up on the subject which I believe many people will find useful. Gail >Spangenberg > >This is not a simple question. There are a number of readability formulas >using such factors as sentence length, number of syllables in a sentence, >and number of "known" words (from a vocabulary list that is part of the >package). A number of computer "editing" programs rate reading level as well. >The scores from such formulas should be takenwith a grain of salt. >Factors--such as interest level, amount of prior knowledge of the subject, >and content load (i.e. how compressed the information is, are not factored >in. It is a bad idea to try to write to a grade level rank using a formula >because it leads to short, choppy sentences and lack of connecting tissue >between ideas. They can be useful, though, in determining, roughly, whether >or not a given document is likely to be appropriate for a given >audience. Despite what I just said, people and institutions often do try >to write to the formulas. That being said, I'm listing below some of the >formulas. Instructions for using them can probably be found on line. > >Here is some of what Edgar Dale and Jeanne Chall said in the booklet >explaining their readability formula, which analyzes sentence length and >number or familiar words (A Formula for Predicting Readability, Bureau of >Educational Research, Ohio State University, reprinted from a 1948 article in >Educational Research Bulletin): > >"We must remember at all times that a formula is a statistical device. It >means that, on the whole, longer sentences make comprehension more >difficult. That does not mean that all long sentences are hard to read and >understand. There are some very short sentences that may be harder to >comprehend than long ones. The same holds true for familiar words." > >"The nature of the difficulty of a given piece of writing depends to a great >extent on what we expect a reader to get out of the material." > >"The reader's purpose in reading and his interest and background in the >subject-matter must also be considered by anyone using a readability >formula." > >Following is a list of readability formulas: > >FLESCH >No grade level; scored 0-100 (very difficult to very easy) >Based on number of syllables, number of words,number of sentences > >FOG >First grade and up >Based on words with 3 or more syllables, number of words, number of sentences > >FRY >First grade through college >Number of syllables, number of words, number of sentences > >RAYGOR >Third grade through college and beyond >Number of words with 6 more or letters. > >SMOG >Third grade and up >Number of words with 3 or more syllables, number of words, >Number of sentences, originally intended for samples of 30+ sentences > >SPACHE (Revised) >Primary grades, no higher than 4th grade >Spache word list, number of words, number of sentences ****************** Barbara Van Horn NIFL-WORKPLACE List Co-Moderator Assistant Director Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy College of Education, The Pennsylvania State University 102 Rackley Building University Park, PA 16802-3202 Phone: 814-865-5876 Fax: 814-863-6108 E-mail: BLV1@PSU.EDU "Moving adult literacy from the Margins to the Mainstream"
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