Readability of self-report depression inventories

Reading grade levels were obtained for 10 depression scales (e.g., Beck Depression Inventory) using 2 empirically based readability formulae, one by R. Gunning (1952) and the other by R. F. Flesch (1949). Results suggest that most of the scales are appropriate for use with both adolescents and adult...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of consulting and clinical psychology Vol. 51; no. 4; pp. 627 - 628
Main Authors:	Berndt, David J, Schwartz, Steven, Kaiser, Charles F
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States American Psychological Association 01-08-1983
Subjects:	Depression (Emotion) Depressive Disorder - diagnosis Depressive Disorder - psychology Human Humans Psychodiagnosis Psychological Tests Rating Scales Readability Semantics
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	Reading grade levels were obtained for 10 depression scales (e.g., Beck Depression Inventory) using 2 empirically based readability formulae, one by R. Gunning (1952) and the other by R. F. Flesch (1949). Results suggest that most of the scales are appropriate for use with both adolescents and adult patients who have attained 9th-grade-level reading skills. The limitations of empirical estimates of readability are discussed, and it is noted that comprehension could be influenced by contextual variables such as scale format. (13 ref)
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0022-006X 1939-2117
DOI:	10.1037/0022-006X.51.4.627