This article describes the results of a survey of the readability of most of the intermediate and advanced accounting textbooks currently in use at colleges and universities throughout the United States. (CT)

This paper reports the effects of the properties of source texts on summarization. One hundred and fifty-seven undergraduates were asked to write summaries of one of three extended English texts of similar length and readability, but differing in other discoursal features such as lexical diversity and macro-organization. The effects of…

General music teachers have a technology tool that not only helps students sing better, it helps them read better! Carry-a-Tune or Singing Coach--the technology that received a rave review from former "General Music Today" technology columnist Kirk Kassner in 2005--is now being offered in an enhanced version called TUNEin[TM] to READING.…

Concludes that test results are essentially the same for both the Flesch and Gunning reading indices. (RB)

The use of readability formulas is spreading into the courts and legislatures as one objective measure to protect the basic rights of citizens. Court cases and legislation involving the readability of Federal Government forms and correspondence, materials concerning criminal rights, consumer product labeling, ballot measures, and warranties and…

Analysis of variance applied to measured working times indicated that the Flesch takes significantly longer to use than Automated Readability Index and the Fog Count. (RB)

Discusses the accuracy of the Fog Index and the SMOG grade (two readability formulas) as predicators of readability. (MAI)

Library user guides from seven large academic libraries were examined for readability using microcomputer software for analysis. Results indicated that most guides are written at or above a reading level of grade 12. Appendices summarize readability formulas and depict in a composite graph the levels of all of the guides examined. (16 references)…

Looks at ERIC documents that deal with readability concerns. (FL)

Found that standard readability indexes by themselves are not useful in measuring readability and comprehensibility of income tax material. Also casts doubt on the use of only readability indexes to measure insurance, labor, and real estate contracts. (PD)

Twenty-four survey textbooks in special education, published between 1974 and 1982, were analyzed with formulae of R. Flesch to determine readability levels and human interest. Among results are that the texts are dull and difficult but usually complete in coverage, although some handicaps (e.g., severe/profound) receive scant coverage. (Authors)

Obtained reading grade levels for depression scales by use of two empirically based readability formulae. Results showed Kovacs children's measure had the easiest reading level, the General Behavior Inventory was appropriate for college-level reading, and most other measures clustered at a fifth- to ninth-grade reading level. (WAS)

McLaughlin's Smog Index was compared to the Dale-Chall formula for the determination of reading levels of 48 textbooks in business and distributive education. A Modified Smog Index proved a valid substitute for the Dale-Chall formula when used to evaluate the reading levels of business and distributive education narrative. (Author/CT)

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory was analyzed by readability formulas which represent varying criterion of comprehension from 50 to 90 percent. If an examiner wishes to ensure 90 percent comprehension of the inventory items, nine years of successful schooling seem necessary. (Author/SJL)

After discussing the ease of using the Fry Readability Graph, the author applies it to biology, chemistry, and physics texts, and lists the results. He warns that textbook authors and classroom teachers should be aware of the potential impact that the reading level of a text can have on students. (KC)