Readability of newspapers in Arkansas compared to regional papers around the nation

Newspaper readability plays an important role in how well people perceive and understand the paper. A text’s reading level is one of the main contributors to the document’s readability, so testing articles’ reading level is a way to gauge how a newspaper is serving an area. Newspaper reading levels are also a reflection of the community. Historically, Arkansas has had low reading and literacy levels. Using an average of five readability calculators, this study tests the readability of Arkansas newspapers in comparison to reading levels of newspapers around the nation. Arkansas newspapers averaged nearly a full reading level lower than the other papers, showing that Arkansas still has room for improvement to become competitive nationally. Newspapers face a lot of competition from other types of media, so testing readability is an excellent tool for editors to strike a balance between informing and educating their readers, ensuring appeal and comprehension

Assessing the Readability of Capital Pattern Jury Instructions

Data obtained from the National Assessment of Adult Literacy (2003) indicate that 29% of adults have a Basic level of prose literacy. Prose literacy refers to the knowledge and skills needed to comprehend and use information from continuous texts, such as editorials, news stories, and instructional materials. In the current study we examined each state’s capital sentencing instructions for their readability using a highly reliable word-analysis tool. We found that reading levels of sentencing instructions significantly surpassed the reading comprehension abilities of American adults. All but three states’ instructions were above the twelfth grade reading level. In addition, legal principles embedded within the weighing language instruction were more difficult to comprehend compared to the aggravating or mitigating factors components of the instructions. By measuring the readability of instruction language and comparing it national literacy levels of adults, we provide an important explanation for poor comprehension of legal principles

Readability of Patient Education Materials on the American Association for Surgery of Trauma Website

Background: Because the quality of information on the Internet is of dubious worth, many patients seek out reliable expert sources. As per the American Medical Association (AMA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommendations, readability of patient education materials should not exceed a sixth-grade reading level. The average reading skill of U.S. adults is at the eighth-grade level. Objectives: This study evaluates whether a recognized source of expert content, the American Association for Surgery of Trauma (AAST) website’s patient education materials, recommended readability guidelines for medical information. Materials and Methods: Using the well-validated Flesch-Kincaid formula to analyze grade level readability, we evaluated the readability of all 16 of the publicly-accessible entries within the patient education section of the AAST website. Results: Mean ± SD grade level readability was 10.9 ± 1.8 for all the articles. All but one of the articles had a readability score above the sixth-grade level. Readability of the articles exceeded the maximum recommended level by an average of 4.9 grade levels (95% confidence interval, 4.0-5.8; P < 0.0001). Readability of the articles exceeded the eighth-grade level by an average of 2.9 grade levels (95% confidence interval, 2.0-3.8; P < 0.0001). Only one of the articles had a readability score below the eighth-grade level. Conclusions: The AAST’s online patient education materials may be of limited utility to many patients, as the readability of the information exceeds the average reading skill level of adults in the U.S. Lack of patient comprehension represents a discrepancy that is not in accordance with the goals of the AAST’s objectives for its patient education efforts. Keywords: Patient Education Materials; Online Health Information; Readability; Comprehension, Flesch-Kincaid Formul

Flesch-Kincaid Reading Grade Level Re-examined: Creating a Uniform Method for Calculating Readability on a Certification Exam

Abstract Objective: This study attempted to establish a consistent measurement technique of the readability of a state-wide Certified Nursing Assistant’s (CNA) certification exam. Background: Monitoring the readability level of an exam helps ensure all test versions do not exceed the maximum reading level of the exam, and that knowledge of the subject matter, rather than reading ability, is being assessed. Method: A two part approach was used to specify and evaluate readability. First, two methods (Microsoft Word® (MSW) software and published readability formulae) were used to calculate Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) and Flesch-Kincaid Reading Grade Level (FKRGL) for multiple standardized tests as well as a state-wide CNA certification exam. Statistics calculated by hand were compared to those computed by MSW. Second, due to inconsistencies in readability statistic calculations, a single method was developed to calculate readability in order create tests at or below an eighth grade reading level. Results: There were significant differences between readability statistics calculated by hand and those calculated using MSW for the standardized tests as well as the CNA certification exam. Hand calculations indicated an easier to understand document than did MSW. Subsequently, by removing identifying values (e.g. numbers and letters), calculated reading levels were then consistent across test versions. Conclusion: Reading grade levels calculated via unpublished formulae should be used with caution due to inconsistent results. Further, creating a standardized format for the CNA exams will aid in making sure readability statistics of the document fall within the certification exam’s guidelines. Application: The reading grade level calculation should be used to ensure the maximum reading level on a certification exam is not exceeded. Evaluating influences that affect reading level calculations should be an integral aspect of creating standardized tests

Optimizing genetics online resources for diverse readers.

PurposeClear and accurate genetic information should be available to health-care consumers at an individualized level of comprehension. The objective of this study is to evaluate the complexity of common online resources and to simplify text content using automated text processing tools.MethodsWe extracted all text from Genetics Home Reference and MedlinePlus in bulk and analyzed content using natural language processing. We applied custom tools to improve the readability and compared readability before and after text optimization.ResultsCommonly used educational materials were more complex than the recommended reading level for the general public. Genetic health information entries from Genetics Home Reference (n = 1279) were written at a median 13.0 grade level. MedlinePlus entries, which are not exclusively genetic (n = 1030), had a median grade level of 7.7. When we optimized text for the 59 actionable conditions by prioritizing medical details using a standard structure, the average reading grade level improved.ConclusionFactors that increase complexity are long sentences and difficult words. Future strategies to reduce complexity include prioritizing relevant details and using more illustrations. Simplifying and providing standardized online health resources would benefit diverse consumers and promote inclusivity

Readability and understandability of andrology questionnaires

Objective: Medical questionnaires, which enable collection, comparison and analysis of appropriate data as a means of written communication between a patient and a doctor, must be easily readable, and understandable. Here, we measure the readability and understandability of questionnaires used in andrology and examine the relationship between the educational status of the patients and the understandability of the forms. Material and methods: Seven questionnaires used to diagnose andological diseases were selected from the European Association of Urology guidelines. The number of syllables per word, the number of words in a sentence, and the average word and sentence lengths were calculated for each Turkish validated form. Readability scores were calculated, and closet tests were used to measure the understandability of the texts. Results: Three hundred and twenty-seven male volunteers participated in the study. Two hundred and sixteen of the participants (66%) had a high school or college education. The readability level of the seven forms was determined to be ''Difficult'' or ''Very Difficult,'' and at least a high school education level was required to understand the forms. As education level and monthly income increased, the understandability of the forms increased; as the readability of the forms became more difficult, their understandability decreased (p<0.001). Conclusion: The readability levels of questionnaires used in andrology are well above the reading level of Turkey. Health providers can help patients to fill out forms to increase doctor-patient communication

READABILITY LEVEL OF ENGLISH READING TEXTS USED BY\ud SIXTH GRADE STUDENT OF SDN SUKOREJO I TAMBAKREJO\ud BOJONEGORO

Language is one aspect which is important in human society to share their idea, feeling,\ud or to express what they want to another. One of languages in the world is English that is\ud widely known as an International Language. In Indonesia, not only adult learners have to\ud learn English but also young learners. However, the function of English for Young\ud Learner is just to stimulate and introduce it as a foreign language, especially in\ud introducing English vocabulary. In teaching English there are four skills have to be\ud mastered by the students, they are writing, reading, speaking, and listening. However, in\ud teaching elementary students, the focus is on vocabulary building. Hence, Reading is the\ud most important way of vocabulary building because the students become familiar with\ud the different meaning of new words in a variety of context. Moreover, to know whether\ud certain text is readable for certain student’s level, readability formula can be used so that\ud the reading process will be successful. The significance of this study for the writer is to\ud get new information about what kind of book that is readable for sixth grade students so it\ud can help in selecting reading texts that are readable and suitable with the student’s level\ud and needs.\ud The objectives of this research were to investigate: 1) The readability level of reading\ud texts in “Happy with English” and “Grow with English” textbooks used for sixth grade\ud students of SDN Sukorejo I Bojonegoro. 2) The influence of readability level of reading\ud texts on the students’ ability.\ud This study used descriptive quantitative research design that described the readability\ud level of English reading texts in “Happy with English” and “Grow with English”\ud textbooks. The subject of this research was 10 English reading texts in “Happy with\ud English” and “Grow with English” textbooks used for sixth grade students of SDN\ud Sukorejo I Bojonegoro. The data of this research were collected and analyzed based on\ud reading texts and students’ reading test score.\ud The result of the study indicated that: 3 reading texts in “Happy with English” and 4\ud reading texts in “Grow with English” textbooks are appropriate for 6th school grade and\ud are categorized in fairly easy style. In addition, the English teacher can use “Happy with\ud English” and “Grow with English” textbooks because most of reading texts are readable\ud and suitable for students of this grade

The readability of reading texts on the English textbook

Many English teacher in Indonesia use textbooks as the primary reading in their classroom. Generally, the textbooks written at a higher readability level than the grade level for which text is intended even published by the government, in this case Pusat Kurikulum dan Perbukuan, Balai Penelitian dan Pengembangan, Kementerian Pendidikam dan Kebudayaan. This research sought to explore the readability of textbook for use by Senior High School Grade XI Semester 1 student in the year 2014. The research question in this study was: What is the readability level of reading texts on the English textbook? This book used as the newest and first English textbook under Kurikulum 2013 at that time. In the study, Flesch Reading Ease Formula was chosen to analyze the reading texts. The formula were used to determine the readability level. The results show that the book were in Standard level with score 69.392. In other words, the reading texts was relatively suitable for eleventh grade students