A study to evaluate representative technology education textbooks (n=15) in terms of reading difficulty, writing style, and interest level ranked texts from most to least difficult using 6 readability formulas. Results indicated that using texts with appropriate readability reduces additional adaptation or rewriting by the instructor. (JOW)

Examines the relationship of readability to usage of main idea clues in introductory texts in sociology and in English composition texts. Concludes that use of main idea clues provides a useful supplement to readability formulas in evaluating college textbooks. (SR)

Suggests caution in using readability formulas in determining how to use a textbook for instruction and suggests other factors to consider. (MKM)

Suggestions are presented in this paper to aid in the effective selection of instructional materials appropriate to the reading levels of the students who will use them. Formulas designed to predict the readability of material are discussed. The cloze procedure, which attempts to measure, for individuals, the difficulty of text, is recommended for…

A study was designed to validate the Navy Readability Indices (NRIs) in an individualized instructional system using the criteria of comprehension and learning time. Two hundred Navy enlisted personnel enrolled in a computer-managed technical training course were tested for both comprehension and learning-time-to-criterion on four programmed…

To aid in the construction of effective task analysis inventories, this technical report discusses: (1) an optimum questionnaire length that adequately covers Marine tasks without unduly fatiguing respondents; (2) procedures for the phrasing of task statements to avoid ambiguities and be understandable to as broad a range of Marines as is…

This handbook for the bilingual vocational curriculum specialist contains seven modules which describe the process of developing curriculum materials to be used by students of limited-English-speaking ability. Module 1 is an introduction to the handbook which discusses bilingual education in the United States and the role of the teacher in…

Intended as a resource of staff-tested activities for two-year college faculty, staff, and administrators, this manual is a compilation of representative materials from training workshops conducted, as a professional development project, to increase instructor skills and knowledge regarding intervention in reading deficiency of postsecondary…

Cosmetology Reading Strategies is one of five instructional guides in the Reading Strategies in Vocational Education Series. Developed to assist teachers working with students considered disadvantaged because of reading deficiency, the guide contains several strategies, suitable for adaptation, specifically related to cosmetology instruction. Each…

A readability study for the Albuquerque Technical-Vocational Institute (T-VI) was undertaken to provide information regarding the reading ability required to complete training and to function in entry-level jobs. Readability formulas were applied to materials used in training and on the job. In addition, students were tested for level of reading,…

Trade and Industrial Reading Strategies is one of five instructional guides in the Reading Strategies in Vocational Education Series. Developed to assist teachers working with students considered disadvantaged because of reading deficiency, the guide contains several strategies, suitable for adaptation, specifically related to trade and industrial…

Medical Assisting Reading Strategies is one of five instructional guides in the Reading Strategies in Vocational Education Series. Developed to assist teachers working with students considered disadvantaged because of reading deficiency, the guide contains several strategies, suitable for adaptation, specifically related to medical assisting…

Data Processing Reading Strategies is one of five instructional guides in the Reading Strategies in Vocational Education Series. Developed to assist teachers working with students considered disadvantaged because of reading deficiency, the guide contains several strategies, suitable for adaptation, specifically related to data processing…

Carpentry Reading Strategies is one of five instructional guides in the Reading Strategies in Vocational Education Series. Developed to assist teachers working with students considered disadvantaged because of reading deficiency, the guide contains several strategies, suitable for adaptation, specifically related to carpentry instruction. Each of…

Clustered Construction Trades Reading Strategies is one of four instructional guides developed to assist teachers working with students considered disadvantaged because of reading deficiency. Section 1 concerns readability and gives procedures and guidelines for collecting samples. Section 2 briefly describes the Cloze procedure and its usefulness…