ABSTRACT
Pointing out the advantages of readability research studies in a publications program, the writer stresses the importance of such knowledge to achieve optimum results. From a personal review of journalism courses, and a survey of editors in various communication programs, writer notes a considerable lack of knowledge of readability research among communicators. The discussion will show how the relationship of author-to-editor can produce an environment of growth for the reader if both are cognizant of how to serve the reader. Research studies have been conducted with various devices and methods and, in some cases, electronic scanners are used to record the movement of eyes when a subject begins a reading session. Assigning the priority to text in a publication provides another means to capitalize on reader responses. Most of the applications have been directed to the formal technical report, a publication in which continuous reading is both voluntary and required in work assignments by technicians and scientists in a company.
