THE READABILITY OF THE TEXTS IN THE TURKISH TEXTBOOKS IN TURKEY

Abstract

It is of paramount importance that educational textbook texts are written in a language parallel to the age and development levels of the students. The central question of the present research is determined is: “What are the readability scores and education levels of the texts in the Turkish textbooks in Turkey?” The present study was conducted to determine the length of the words and sentences, the readability and education levels of the texts in the Turkish textbooks was carried out according to a descriptive survey model. The system and sample choices were not used, as the case would be determined in the research. The data of the research was obtained by applying the “Cetinkaya-Uzun Readibility Formula” to the texts in the Turkish textbooks prepared by the MEB publishing house according to new education program. The readability scores and education levels of the examined texts were determined. It was determined that the average values of length of the words and sentences used in the narrative texts were created by ignoring the age and development levels of the children. Although this assumption was taken into consideration in the average length of sentences in informative texts, the fact that the lowest values of average length of words was determined according to the 7 th grade was an inconsistent feature in this case. In light of the data obtained as a result of the study, it was determined that the relationship between the readability scores and education levels of the informative and narrative texts differed. It was observed that while the informative texts were chosen taking the age level of the target reader into consideration, the narrative texts were more appropriate for the education levels of the children compared to the informative texts.