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 at two Navy bases: Naval Air Station at Memphis, and Great Lakes Navy Training Center. 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.