• JackDark@lemmy.world
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    8 hours ago

    I always wonder how these things are determined. Does a 6th grade reading level mean that you cannot read above that level (simplifying here), or just that you generally don’t read above it? Never in my adult life have I taken a survey/test that would generate the statistics like this that we always see, nor do I know anyone that has (which isn’t to say that they aren’t happening). If the media being generated for me is written at a lower level, and that’s what they are basing these types of statistics off of, that’s not reflective of my abilities. Don’t get me wrong, my country is beyond fucked, but I’m not really a fan of how the author of this article tried to make their point (and I’m not just talking about the reading level statistic).

    • Clent@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      2 hours ago

      Never in my adult life have I taken a survey/test that would generate the statistics like this that we always see

      These are statistical models they aren’t asking everyone or anything even close. It’s based on random samplings and I found two of these one that operats at the international level another at the federal level

      There is an article about the later one’s results, it tested more than reading level. here

      These studies aren’t done by organizations that want to denigrate, they want to raise awareness and improve everyone’s reading levels.

      This and other articles are because it’s humans nature to make oneself feel superior to others but the reality is some of the people in this very thread may be classified as one of those in a sixth grade level. Statistically it’s all but certain.

    • Dozzi92@lemmy.world
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      3 hours ago

      This is an op-ed disguised as a news story. It doesn’t even tell me who did the study, doesn’t tell me where to find it, gives me nothing, and then goes off on some very politically charged tangents.

      It says Americans are dumb though, so to the top with you!

    • Jack_Burton@lemmy.ca
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      7 hours ago

      It’s been a while since I read about it, but if I remember correctly it’s roughly the level medication directions are written in. Simple, direct language that’s hard to misinterpret. People at that reading level can read levels above it, but struggle to comprehend it.

      • Waraugh@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        5 hours ago

        That kind of seems like the responsible thing to do with medications regardless, remove any possible ambiguity. I can read well above these levels and when I create standard operating procedures I attempt to do the same thing. Clear, concise, repeatable, and limit jargon as much as possible. A network admin, system admin, help desk person, or someone fresh off the line might need to follow them one day and I can’t assume they have the same foundational knowledge or environmental familiarity that I do. What I do is also a lot less important and has a far narrower reach than medication.

        • unphazed@lemmy.world
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          4 hours ago

          Used to work at ATT. They used a goddamn dictionary tool for their abbreviations. And some were used for five things or more. You had to read them in context to differentiate. A damn nightmare.