| Readability Testing
[Description] [Pros]
[Cons] [Common Uses] [Resources]
Description
Estimates the educational level required for target population
to adequately comprehend written materials (i.e., if a pamphlet's readability
level is sixth grade, readers need to read at about the sixth grade level
in order to comprehend the pamphlet). Readability tests are available on
many standard word processing packages or a test can easily be computed by
hand.
Pros
-
Inexpensive
- Test
can be performed very quickly
Cons
- Serves
as "rule
of thumb" only,
not predictive of reader's ability to understand content
- Must
be interpreted with caution because many additional factors
can enhance or diminish comprehension of written material (e.g.,
the conceptual context
of the material, reader's motivation or interest in the material,
layout of concepts in a passage, use of graphics and symbols)
Common
Uses
- Increase likelihood
that materials will be comprehensible for those with lower literacy levels.
Resources
See directions
and an example of how to use the SMOG readability testing formula. SMOG_Readability.pdf
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