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Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal
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Readability of Recommended Nutrition Sources

Ruthann B. Swanson

Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775-0080

Cathy A. Birklid

Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775-0080

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.

Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, Vol. 20, No. 3, 187-197 (1992)
DOI: 10.1177/1077727X9202000301
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