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From: Judy Singh <jsingh@edunet.soe.vcu.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:3648] RE: Readability vs. Understandability
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Readability refers to the ease with which the reader is able to
understand text. Many text variables contribute to readability so it is
the style of writing that determines readability of text and whether the
reader will be able to understand it. Readability formulas assess text
on the basis of one variable and give an estimate of the reading grade
level but this doesn't really tell you how readable or comprehensible
the text is for the reader. For my doctoral dissertation I developed
the Readability Assessment Instrument (RAIN) and used it to analyze
health brochures. The variables (total of 14) included in the RAIN are
those identified by researchers as impacting comprehension. The RAIN is
a tool for analyzing text to determine the extent to which these
important variables have been included. The instrument can also be used
to revise materials and it can also be used as a guideline for writing
new materials. Currently, I am in the process of revising the RAIN manual.
nifl-health@nifl.gov wrote:
>We have had a task force looking at the readability of patient information and consents in the hospital setting. We have found the task of improving readability to very difficult but have had some success. Our success has primarily come by using definitions for new terms, improving the format of the information and changing terminology. I don't believe we compromised on the meaning of the information or it's importance.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Jill Dehlin [mailto:jdehlin@attbi.com]
>Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2002 12:21 PM
>To: Multiple recipients of list
>Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:3646] Readability vs. Understandability
>
>
>This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
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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. My research interest is in readability =
>vs.=20
>understandability of health education materials. </FONT></DIV>
><DIV> </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. My hunch is that using readability =
>formulas=20
>will sometimes dilute important information that needs to be conveyed to =
>the=20
>patient. </FONT></DIV>
><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </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." How is it more =
>than=20
>counting polysyllabic words and number of sentences? When =
>have=20
>others (or yourself) tried to improve readability at the risk of =
>excluding=20
>important information? Again, examples would be =
>terrific!</FONT></DIV>
><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Thanks for your input.</FONT></DIV>
><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </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> </DIV>
><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><A=20
>href=3D"mailto:jdehlin@attbi.com">jdehlin@attbi.com</A></FONT></DIV></DIV=
>
>></BODY></HTML>
>>
>
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Readability refers to the ease with which the reader is able to understand
text. Many text variables contribute to readability so it is the style of
writing that determines readability of text and whether the reader will be
able to understand it. Readability formulas assess text on the basis of
one variable and give an estimate of the reading grade level but this doesn't
really tell you how readable or comprehensible the text is for the reader.
For my doctoral dissertation I developed the Readability Assessment Instrument
(RAIN) and used it to analyze health brochures. The variables (total of 14)
included in the RAIN are those identified by researchers as impacting comprehension.
The RAIN is a tool for analyzing text to determine the extent to which these
important variables have been included. The instrument can also be used to
revise materials and it can also be used as a guideline for writing new materials.
Currently, I am in the process of revising the RAIN manual.<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:nifl-health@nifl.gov">nifl-health@nifl.gov</a> wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:md5%3A64756D6D79206D657373616765206964">
<pre wrap="">We have had a task force looking at the readability of patient information and consents in the hospital setting. We have found the task of improving readability to very difficult but have had some success. Our success has primarily come by using definitions for new terms, improving the format of the information and changing terminology. I don't believe we compromised on the meaning of the information or it's importance.<br><br>-----Original Message-----<br>From: Jill Dehlin [<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:jdehlin@attbi.com">mailto:jdehlin@attbi.com</a>]<br>Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2002 12:21 PM<br>To: Multiple recipients of list<br>Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:3646] Readability vs. Understandability<br><br><br>This is a multi-part message in MIME format.<br><br>------=_NextPart_000_000F_01C1DBD2.E51ECA60<br>Content-Type: text/plain;<br> charset="iso-8859-1"<br>Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable<br><br>I am a PhD student in the College of Ed
ucation at Michigan State =<br>University. My research interest is in readability vs. =<br>understandability of health education materials. =20<br><br>I have a hunch about the use of readability formulas in the creation or =<br>modification of health education materials that I would like to =<br>investigate. My hunch is that using readability formulas will sometimes =<br>dilute important information that needs to be conveyed to the patient. =20<br><br>I am looking for real-life examples in the field or comments regarding =<br>your notion of "readability." How is it more than counting polysyllabic =<br>words and number of sentences? When have others (or yourself) tried to =<br>improve readability at the risk of excluding important information? =<br>Again, examples would be terrific!<br><br>Thanks for your input.<br><br>Jill Dehlin, RN, CHES<br>PhD Candidate, Learning, Technology, and Culture<br>College of Education<br>Michigan State University<br>East Lansing, MI<br><br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:jdehlin@attbi.com">jdehlin@attbi.com</a><br><br>------=_NextPart_000_000F_01C1DBD2.E51ECA60<br>Content-Type: text/html;<br> charset="iso-8859-1"<br>Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable<br><br><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"><br><HTML><HEAD><br><META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; =<br>charset=3Diso-8859-1"><br><META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.2600.0" name=3DGENERATOR><br><STYLE></STYLE><br></HEAD><br><BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff><br><DIV><br><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I am a PhD student in the College of =<br>Education at=20<br>Michigan State University.&nbsp; My research interest is in readability =<br>vs.=20<br>understandability of health education materials.&nbsp; </FONT></DIV><br><DIV>&nbsp;</DIV><br><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I have a hunch about th
e use of =<br>readability=20<br>formulas in the creation or modification of health education materials =<br>that I=20<br>would like to investigate.&nbsp; My hunch is that using readability =<br>formulas=20<br>will sometimes dilute important information that needs to be conveyed to =<br>the=20<br>patient.&nbsp; </FONT></DIV><br><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV><br><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I am looking for real-life examples in =<br>the field or=20<br>comments regarding your notion of "readability."&nbsp; How is it more =<br>than=20<br>counting polysyllabic words and number of sentences?&nbsp;&nbsp; When =<br>have=20<br>others (or yourself) tried to improve readability at the risk of =<br>excluding=20<br>important information?&nbsp; Again, examples would be =<br>terrific!</FONT></DIV><br><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV&g
t;<br><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Thanks for your input.</FONT></DIV><br><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV><br><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Jill Dehlin, RN, CHES</FONT></DIV><br><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>PhD Candidate, Learning, Technology, =<br>and=20<br>Culture</FONT></DIV><br><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>College of Education</FONT></DIV><br><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Michigan State University</FONT></DIV><br><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>East Lansing, MI</FONT></DIV><br><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV><br><DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><A=20<br>href=3D<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:jdehlin@attbi.com">"mailto:jdehlin@attbi.com"</a>><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mail
to:jdehlin@attbi.com">jdehlin@attbi.com</a></A></FONT></DIV></DIV=<br></pre>
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