Validity of readability formulas

Abstract

Two samples of employees were sent copies of a newspaper containing easy (one sample) and difficult (the other sample) versions of 12 articles. Retention, readership, and comprehension were measured. Neither retention nor readership measures showed significant differences between the samples; neither readability, as measured by Flesch formula and by the Dale-Chall formula, nor Flesch human interest index were related to differences in readership. The sample receiving the easy versions showed low but consistent gains in comprehension over the other sample. It is suggested that the investigation of motivational factors in content of selective reading is an important area for further study. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)