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 4

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.

Even under the limited conditions where readability revisions result in improved performance, the formula score cannot be relied on to provide an accurate ranking of the relative difficulty of the revised material

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