Readability Tests and Software for Printed Educational Materials

 Software of Readability Program for Printed Educational Materials

What  are Computerized Readability Software Programs,Tests to Measure Comprehension of Printed Education Materials.

What  are Computerized Readability Software Programs

    Computerized programs have greatly facilitated the use of readability formulas. Some software programs apply multiple formulas to analyze one text selection. In addition, some packages can identify difficult words in written passages that may not be understood by patients. Dozens of user friendly, menu-driven commercial software packages can automatically calculate reading levels as well as provide advice on how to simplify text (Aldridge, 2004; Doak et al., 1996). 

    To read about two powerful readability software applications, Readability Calculations and Readability Plus, that are compatible for Windows or Macintosh and are used widely by universities, corporations, hospitals and individuals to name a few, see http://www.readability formulas.com and see https://readable.io/ to quickly analyze and compare the readability of many types of documents.

    Computerized assessment of readability is fast and easy, and it provides a high degree of reliability, especially when several formulas are used. Determining readability by computer programs rather than doing so manually is also more accurate in calculating reading levels because it eliminates human error in scoring and because entire articles, pamphlets, or books can be scanned (Duffy & Snyder, 1999, Mailloux, Johnson, Fisher, & Pettibone, 1995). 

    It is advisable to take an average across several pieces of literature, using several different formulas and software programs, when calculating estimates of readability. Unlike other readability software tools, the relatively new Coleman Liau Readability Formula (also known as the Coleman Liau Index) is a readability assessment tool that counts the number of characters (letters) instead of syllables per word. See http://www.readabilityformulas.com/.

Tests to Measure Comprehension of Printed Education Materials

    Standardized tests have proven reliable and valid in measuring reader's comprehension levels (Doak et al., 1996; Klapwijk, 2013). Usually pretests and post tests used in institutional settings measure recall of knowledge rather than comprehension. However, the determination of readers' abilities to understand information is essential. Health education materials must serve a useful purpose, from the standpoint of assisting patients to assume self care as well as for protecting the health professional from legal liability.

    Comprehension implies that the reader has internalized the information found in PEMs (Aldridge, 2004). The two most popular standardized methods to measure comprehension of written materials are the cloze test and the listening test. These tests can be used to assess how much someone understands from reading or listening to a passage of text.