Table 1.
Publications on Survey Readability: Methods, Application to Test, and Scores
| Author, Year | Survey Theme | Readability Test | Application | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berndt, 1983 | Depression inventories–5 | FRE, Gunning | Not indicated | 5th-12th grade |
| Price, 1985 | Obesity | SMOG | Response options | 9th grade |
| Jensen, 1987 | Marital surveys–9 | Forbes-Cottle | Instructions and questions | 6th-college |
| Devins, 1990 | Kidney knowledge | Multiple methods | Not indicated | 9th grade |
| Macey, 1991 | Critical care family needs | Gunning-Fox | Not indicated | 9th grade |
| Paolo, 1993 | Dissociative experiences | F-K | Questions | 10th grade |
| Beckman, 1997 | Clinical outcomes surveys–5 | FRE | Instructions and questions | 8th-9th grade |
| Edlund, 1997 | Health plan satisfaction | F-K | Not indicated | 6th grade |
| MacDiarmid, 1997 | Urological symptoms | Dale-Chall | Survey as a whole | 6th grade |
| Eaden, 1999 | Colitis knowledge | FRE | Not indicated | 74.3 |
| Pande, 2000 | Osteoporosis | FRE | Not indicated | 74.3 |
| Heyland, 2001 | Intensive care unit satisfaction | F-K | Not indicated | 6th grade |
| Kimble, 2001 | Cardiac | F-K | Not indicated | 4th grade |
| Rowan, 2001 | Foot pain | FRE | Not indicated | 82.4 |
| Otley, 2002 | Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease | F-K | Not indicated | 5th grade |
| Dolovich, 2004 | Foot pain | FRE | Not indicated | 82.4 |
| Travess, 2004 | Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease | F-K | Not indicated | 5th grade |
FRE = Flesch Reading Ease; SMOG = Simple Measure of Gobbledygook; F-K = Flesch-Kincaid Formula.