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Readability and Reading Comprehension Problems Among Correctional Employees - Implications for Policy Implementation

NCJ Number
88528
Journal
Journal of Correctional Education Volume: 34 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1983) Pages: 18-23
Author(s)
W G Archambeault; B J Archambeault
Date Published
1983
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Managers of criminal justice agencies should develop and implement strategies to improve the readability of written communications and the comprehension of these materials, because management by clearly written policy is a fundamental principle of professional criminal justice administration.
Abstract
Readability entails the matching of the level of a written communication to the reading ability of the intended employee, whereas reading comprehension entails the correct interpretation and application of policies and procedures. Mastery level comprehension consists of literal comprehension, interpretive or inferential comprehension, and critical comprehension, and is the ability to translate critical comprehension into actions. To correct readability and reading comprehension problems, management must apply sound basic principles of writing, provide the employee with background information related to policy and procedure statements, and define and explain new terms and vocabulary. Managers should also orient training and testing toward developing mastery level comprehension. They should improve supervisor development and more effectively use first level supervisors, the most important trainers in the correctional organization. Ten references are listed.