Effect of academic level of a text and the reader’s place of origin on reading comprehension of health communication messages

Authors

  • Ivan N. Rios Hernandez

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15847/obsOBS312009232

Keywords:

Health communication, lecture comprehension, place of origin, academic level of a text, disease prevention messages.

Abstract

This study aims to measure the impact, if any, of the reader’s place of origin and the academic level of a text on the reading comprehension of health issue communication messages. This is a quantitative inferential study. The populations studied were Puerto Ricans and Dominicans of San Juan, Puerto Rico. An instrument was used to measure reading comprehension which included three texts related to the health field classified into three academic levels in accordance with the Readability Formula of Fernández Huerta. Statistical analysis revealed that the text classified as sixth grade level had a significance level of .026 among the Puerto Ricans and Dominicans surveyed, whereas the text classified as seventh grade obtained a .001 significance level. The eighth grade text had a significance level of .001. The study shows that there is a statistically significant difference between the academic level of a text and reading comprehension depending on the reader’s place of origin.

Author Biography

Ivan N. Rios Hernandez

Profesional motivado y talentoso de las comunicaciones por más de diecisiete años. Ha tenido experiencia en varias áreas del campo de la comunicación social entre las que se encuentran: relaciones públicas, telecomunicaciones, mercadeo y publicidad. Ha laborado para el gobierno y la empresa privada, así como para instituciones de educación universitaria en Puerto Rico. Posee excelente comunicación verbal y escrita en español e inglés. Dinámico, diligente y comprometido con el desarrollo de la comunicación social en Puerto Rico. Es considerado uno de los recursos mejor preparados en el ofrecimiento de manejo de entrevistas con los medios (media training) en Puerto Rico. Actualmente se encuentra inmerso completamente en la culminación de su disertación doctoral en Comunicación Social para la Universidad Pompeu Fabra de Barcelona, esperando obtener su PhD en el año 2009. Sus intereses de investigación se centran en el campo de la comunicación en salud y comunicación política desde una perspectiva cultural.

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Published

2009-03-19

How to Cite

Rios Hernandez, I. N. (2009). Effect of academic level of a text and the reader’s place of origin on reading comprehension of health communication messages. Observatorio (OBS*), 3(1). https://doi.org/10.15847/obsOBS312009232

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2009)

Section

Articles

License

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