[NIFL-HEALTH:3646] Readability vs. Understandability

From: Jill Dehlin (jdehlin@attbi.com)
Date: Thu Apr 04 2002 - 12:21:45 EST


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From: "Jill Dehlin" <jdehlin@attbi.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:3646] Readability vs. Understandability
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I am a PhD student in the College of Education at Michigan State =
University.  My research interest is in readability vs. =
understandability of health education materials. =20

I have a hunch about the use of readability formulas in the creation or =
modification of health education materials that I would like to =
investigate.  My hunch is that using readability formulas will sometimes =
dilute important information that needs to be conveyed to the patient. =20

I am looking for real-life examples in the field or comments regarding =
your notion of "readability."  How is it more than counting polysyllabic =
words and number of sentences?   When have others (or yourself) tried to =
improve readability at the risk of excluding important information?  =
Again, examples would be terrific!

Thanks for your input.

Jill Dehlin, RN, CHES
PhD Candidate, Learning, Technology, and Culture
College of Education
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

jdehlin@attbi.com

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<DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I am a PhD student in the College of =
Education at=20
Michigan State University.&nbsp; My research interest is in readability =
vs.=20
understandability of health education materials.&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I have a hunch about the use of =
readability=20
formulas in the creation or modification of health education materials =
that I=20
would like to investigate.&nbsp; My hunch is that using readability =
formulas=20
will sometimes dilute important information that needs to be conveyed to =
the=20
patient.&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I am looking for real-life examples in =
the field or=20
comments regarding your notion of "readability."&nbsp; How is it more =
than=20
counting polysyllabic words and number of sentences?&nbsp;&nbsp; When =
have=20
others (or yourself) tried to improve readability at the risk of =
excluding=20
important information?&nbsp; Again, examples would be =
terrific!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Thanks for your input.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Jill Dehlin, RN, CHES</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>PhD Candidate, Learning, Technology, =
and=20
Culture</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>College of Education</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Michigan State University</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>East Lansing, MI</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><A=20
href=3D"mailto:jdehlin@attbi.com">jdehlin@attbi.com</A></FONT></DIV></DIV=
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