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This research study examines the relationship between reader-level variables and text-level variables in a large-scale assessment of reading comprehension for Grade 10 students in Minnesota, administered in 2006. Six narrative passages and the associated multiple-choice reading comprehension items were examined and coded for variation in propositional density, causal connectedness, cognitive demand, item type, and distracter features. A series of Rasch models were used to calculate individual item difficulty for different groups of students, divided on proficiency level. The relationship between student proficiency, item characteristics and item difficulty was investigated. A significant effect of whether multiple choice items demanded an inference ...

Recently, electronic books (e-books) have become prevalent amongst the general population, as well as students, owing to their advantages over traditional books. In South Africa, a number of schools have integrated tablets into the classroom with the promise of replacing traditional books. In order to realise the potential of e-books and their associated devices within an academic context, where reading speed and comprehension are critical for academic performance and personal growth, the effectiveness of reading from a tablet screen should be evaluated. To achieve this objective, a quasi-experimental within-subjects design was employed in order to compare the reading speed and ...

Objectives: This study identifies the most significant readability factors and examines ways of improving and evaluating Japanese health information text in terms of ease of reading and understanding. Methods: Six different Japanese texts were prepared based on an original short text written by a medical doctor for a hospital web site intended for laypersons regarding chronic suppurative otitis media. Four were revised for single readability factor (syntax, vocabulary, or text structure) and two were modified in all three factors. Using a web-based survey, 270 high school students read one of the seven texts, including the original, completed two kinds of ...

Background: Simplified informed consent forms have been successful in improving patient satisfaction and decreasing patient anxiety. However, unsolved problems remain about whether these documents improve comprehension and satisfaction of patients with standard literacy skills. Purposes: To investigate whether a detailed consent form explaining the key elements of informed consent, in comparison to a standard consent form, would increase the comprehension and satisfaction of adult cancer patients. Methods: Patients who were eligible for the National Surgical Adjuvant Study of Breast Cancer (protocol 01(N-SAS/BC-01)) were randomly selected to receive one of the following four versions: detailed document with graphics, detailed document without ...

This study compared reading comprehension, critical reading, and use of study skills between students reading eTexts on eReaders and those reading with paper texts. This research also examined the practical applications for considering the different skill sets students may need to read eTexts effectively in English classrooms. Our research found no discernible differences in reading comprehension levels between the e Reader and non-eReader groups. Survey data also revealed that while students reported using active reading skills (like highlighting, bookmarking, and annotating text) when reading traditional texts, they did not transfer these active reading skills to eTexts/eReading. ...

In hun artikel gaan Gerdineke van Silfhout, Jacqueline Evers-Vermeul en Ted Sanders in op de vraag welke rol verbindingswoorden zoals omdat en bovendien spelen in het verwerken en begrijpen van verhalen en studieteksten. Hun oogbewegingsonderzoek onder middelbare scholieren wijst uit dat verbindingswoorden functioneren als verwerkingsinstructies: ze instrueren leerlingen welke relatie ze moeten leggen tussen een nieuwe en een eerder gelezen zin. Het effect hiervan tijdens het lezen is dat leerlingen de nieuwe zin sneller verwerken en vaker terugkijken naar eerdere informatie. Na het lezen leidt dit bij sterke én zwakke lezers tot hogere begripsscores. ...

This research examined the effects of several versions of capital penalty phase instructions on juror comprehension. Study One documented the impact of California's recently implemented “plain language” instruction. It showed that although the new instruction has clear advantages over the previous version, significant comprehension problems remain. Study Two evaluated several modified instructions designed to enhance comprehension. Participants heard either a standard patterned instruction or one of two alternatives – a psycholinguistically improved instruction, or a “pinpoint” instruction using case-related facts to illustrate key terms – in a simulated death penalty sentencing phase. Persons who heard modified instructions demonstrated higher levels ...

This research examined the effects of several versions of capital penalty phase instructions on juror comprehension. Study One documented the impact of California's recently implemented “plain language” instruction. It showed that although the new instruction has clear advantages over the previous version, significant comprehension problems remain. Study Two evaluated several modified instructions designed to enhance comprehension. Participants heard either a standard patterned instruction or one of two alternatives – a psycholinguistically improved instruction, or a “pinpoint” instruction using case-related facts to illustrate key terms – in a simulated death penalty sentencing phase. Persons who heard modified instructions demonstrated higher levels ...

Background. Presentation of risk information influences patients’ ability to interpret health care options. Little is known about this relationship between risk presentation and interpretation among American Indians. Methods. Three hundred American Indian employees on a western American Indian reservation were invited to complete an anonymous written survey. All surveys included a vignette presenting baseline risk information about a hypothetical cancer and possible benefits of 2 prevention plans. Risk interpretation was assessed by correct answers to 3 questions evaluating the risk reduction associated with the plans. Numeric information was the same in all surveys, but framing varied; half expressed prevention benefits ...

We evaluated methods for presenting risk information by administering six versions of an anonymous survey to 489 American Indian tribal college students. All surveys presented identical numeric information, but framing varied. Half expressed prevention benefits as relative risk reduction, half as absolute risk reduction. One third of surveys used text to describe prevention benefits; one third used text plus bar graph; one third used text plus modified bar graph incorporating a culturally tailored image. The odds ratio (OR) for correct risk interpretation for absolute risk framing vs. relative risk framing was 1.40 (95 % CI = 1.01, 1.93). The OR for correct interpretation ...