The Readability of Study Habit Books and College Students' Reading Ability

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Abstract
This study was undertaken to determine the readability of a representative number of study habits books used in college reading and study skills courses and to compare their readability with the reading ability of the students who use them. The Davis Reading Test scores of 110 students enrolled in reading and study skills classes and of 1,145 entering freshmen at West Chester State College were compared with the Dale-Chall readability levels of 14 study habits books. From 4.5 to 43.6 percent of the 110 students enrolled in reading and study skills classes were below the grade-level placement of the 14 study habits books. Only one study habits book had a range of 5 to 9 grade-level placements. The findings suggested that the readability of study habits books, like other college texts analyzed in readability studies, were above the reading ability of a varying number of college students who used them. It was recommended that the findings be considered in the teaching of study habits and the writing of study habits books. The need for replicating the study in other college settings and with other study skills books and readibility measures was also noted.

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