Derivation of New Readability Formulas (Automated Readability Index, Fog Count and Flesch Reading Ease Formula) for Navy Enlisted Personnel

Abstract : Three readability formulas were recalculated to be more suitable for Navy use. The three formulas are the Automated Readability Index (ARI), Fog Count, and Flesch Reading Ease Formula. They were derived from test results of 531 Navy enlisted personnel enrolled in four technical training schools. Personnel were tested for their reading comprehension level according to the comprehension section of the Gates-McGinitie reading test. At the same time, they were tested for their comprehension of 18 passages taken from Rate Training Manuals. Scores on the reading test and training material passages allowed the calculation of the grade level of the passages. This scaled reading grade level is based on Navy personnel reading Navy training material and comprehending it.