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TEXTBOOK READABILITY AND THE PREDICTIVE VALUE OF THE DALE-CHALL, COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM, AND CLOZE

The purposes of this investigation were to: (1) Determine the differences, if any, in fourth, fifth and sixth grade students' mean scores on cloze tests in their science, English and social studies textbooks. (2) Determine the relationship, if any, between fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students' Comprehensive Assessment Program (CAP) normal curve equivalent total reading scores and their mean scores on cloze tests constructed from science, English, and social studies textbooks. / To determine the normal curve equivalent scores, the total reading scores of the Comprehensive Assessment Program, Form B were used. Textbook readability levels were determined by the Dale-Chall readability formula. The textbooks were on the Florida State adopted list. / Cloze test scores were determined from examiner constructed cloze tests of 250-275 word samples taken from 4th, 5th, and 6th grade science, English, and social studies textbooks. Tests were scored on the number of word replacements that matched the original text. A score of 40% was considered instructional level. / The subjects included all 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students enrolled in the FSU Developmental Research School. Both cloze and CAP tests were administered by the classroom teachers during regular class time. Each hypothesis was tested at the .05 alpha level. / The relative reading difficulty of fourth, fifth, and sixth grade science, English, and social studies textbooks was determined by a repeated measures analysis of variance. Significant differences existed at grades four and five but not at grade six. Social Studies was the most difficult textbook at grades 4 and 5. Over half of the students were at their frustration level in all three textbooks with the exception of fifth grade science. / The relationship between Comprehensive Assessment Program scores and cloze test scores was determined using the Pearson Product-moment correlation coefficient. At all three grade levels a statistically significant positive relationship existed between science, English, and social studies cloze test scores and Comprehensive Assessment Program scores. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-02, Section: A, page: 0353. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1987.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_76043
ContributorsWAIT, SHIRLEEN SASSER., Florida State University
Source SetsFlorida State University
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText
Format132 p.
RightsOn campus use only.
RelationDissertation Abstracts International

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