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Readability of Recommended Nutrition Sources
Author(s) -
Swanson Ruthann B.,
Birklid Cathy A.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
home economics research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.372
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1552-3934
pISSN - 0046-7774
DOI - 10.1177/1077727x9202000301
Subject(s) - readability , reading (process) , reading level , grade level , literacy , computer science , medical education , psychology , multimedia , medicine , mathematics education , linguistics , pedagogy , philosophy , programming language
In this study, the readability of books recommended to consumers by profes sional nutrition and dietetics organizations was determined. Representative text samples from 32 publications were evaluated. Writing style and Flesch reading ease scores were assessed with microcomputer analysis. Flesch human interest scores were calculated by two evaluators. The grade level required to read the recommended books was 10.3 (± 2.7). More than 40% of the recommendations required a reading level that exceeds that of popular magazines. Only one rec ommended book was written at a level that was understandable by adults with low literacy skills. Mid‐range human interest scores reflect the use of how‐to information and examples preferred in nutrition print materials by consumers. Publications containing more passive sentences tended to be more difficult to understand and were slightly less personalized. For many consumers, the com prehension and application of the concepts presented in these recommended books will probably require interaction with professionals.