Duffy, T. M., & Kabance, P. (1982). Testing a readable writing approach to text revision. Journal of Educational Psychology, 74(5), 733-748.

Duffy,T.;Kabance, P.

1982

Duffy, T. M., & Kabance, P. (1982). Testing a readable writing approach to text revision. Journal of Educational Psychology, 74(5), 733-748.

studie 1

A readable writing approach to text revision was evaluated in 5 experiments with 1,169 17-20 yr old males. Revision involved use of word lists and the application of a syntax rule. It resulted in a reduction of 6 grade levels in the readability score. The revisions failed to produce practical improvements in comprehension on several reading-to-do tasks. Meaningful improvements in comprehension were achieved only for low-ability readers on a reading-to-learn task when vocabulary was simplified. Results are interpreted in terms of cognitive-processing requirements. The inadequacies of readability formulas and guidelines as a means of controlling the production of text are discussed, and an alternative, transformer approach is advocated.

The results of this experiment offer no support for the hypothesis that readability formulas can be used as a guide for simplifying text. Simplifying sentences and vocabulary had little, if any, effect on performance even though readability is greatly improved according to formulae.

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