Comparing google's readability of search results to the flesch readability formulae: A preliminary analysis on children's search queries

Abstract

AbstractResults retrieved by Google on fifteen search queries formulated by middle school children were examined for readability based on Google Reading Level filter (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced). Three hundred retrieved results (links, snippets, and corresponding Web page texts) were analyzed for readability. Google's assigned reading levels were aggregated at the query level and across the queries and averaged using percentages. The readability scores and grade levels calculated for these results using the Flesch Reading Ease and Flesch‐Kincaid Grade Level were averaged at the query level and across the queries and compared to Google's reading levels. On most queries, a mismatch between Google's assigned reading levels and the Flesch scores/grade levels was found. The Flesch formulae predicted that a high number of results Google retrieved on the queries were Fairly Difficult, Difficult, or Very Confusing to children in middle grades. A fair number of results Google retrieved did not have assigned reading levels. Implications are made for Google's reading algorithm, as well as for teachers, parents, and school librarians in guiding children's use of Google.