Readability Testing

jump over navigation bar[Description] [Pros] [Cons] [Common Uses] [Resources]

Description

Estimates the educational level required for target population to adequately comprehend written materials (i.e., if a pamphlet's readability level is sixth grade, readers need to read at about the sixth grade level in order to comprehend the pamphlet). Readability tests are available on many standard word processing packages or a test can easily be computed by hand.

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Test can be performed very quickly

Cons

  • Serves as "rule of thumb" only, not predictive of reader's ability to understand content
  • Must be interpreted with caution because many additional factors can enhance or diminish comprehension of written material (e.g., the conceptual context of the material, reader's motivation or interest in the material, layout of concepts in a passage, use of graphics and symbols)

Common Uses

  • Increase likelihood that materials will be comprehensible for those with lower literacy levels

Resources

For instructions on the Gunning Fog Index, see: http://www.sheridanc.on.ca/~sherman/rap.dir/weeks1to4/ Cutfog.html *

*Links to non–Federal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users. Links do not constitute an endorsement of any organization by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at this link.