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  5. Perceptions of Textbook Style
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Student Perceptions of Textbook Writing Styles
 
 
 
The goal of this study is to find out how students react to reading different textbook passages. You will read three short textbook passages and rate the qualities of each passage.

We'll begin by getting some basic information from you. Please click on the 'Continue' button below.
 
 
 
* Please enter the number found in the UPPER RIGHTHAND corner of your packet (first page):
   
 
 
 
* What year are you in college?
 
Freshman
 
Sophomore
 
Junior
 
Senior
 
 
 
* What is your major?
   
 
 
 
List any Psychology or Geology classes you have taken IN COLLEGE along with the grade you received.
   
 
 
 
* How many hours per week do you spend reading for college?
   
 
 
How would you rate your reading proficiency?
Very low proficiency
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Very high proficiency
7
*  
 
 
How would you rate your motivation to read?
Not motivated at all
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Highly motivated
7
*  
 
 
 
Read textbook passage 1
 
 
 
At this point, please turn to the first textbook passage in your packet. Please do not look at any of the other texts until you are instructed to do so.
 
 
 
* Please enter the number found in the UPPER LEFTHAND corner of the text:
   
 
 
 
Please read the entire text before moving on in the survey. Once you have finished reading this passage, please flip it over so that you cannot see it and click on the 'Continue' button below.
 
 
 
Rate textbook passage 1
 
 
 
Please rate the textbook passage you just read on each of the scales in the next four pages. Try to be as precise as possible. There are no right or wrong answers.

Also, don't worry if some of the adjectives puzzle you. It is your intuitive response we want, so rate the text as you "feel" it should be judged.
 
 
 
Effective
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Ineffective
7
*  
 
 
Unstructured
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Structured
7
*  
 
 
Readable
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Unreadable
7
*  
 
 
Biased
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Unbiased
7
*  
 
 
Unsuccessful
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Successful
7
*  
 
 
Ordered
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Mixed-up
7
*  
 
 
Comprehensible
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Incomprehensible
7
*  
 
 
Uninfluential
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Influential
7
*  
 
 
Original
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Unoriginal
7
*  
 
 
Disjointed
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Coherent
7
*  
 
 
Easy
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Difficult
7
*  
 
 
Argumentative
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Informational
7
*  
 
 
Unpleasant
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Enjoyable
7
*  
 
 
Connected
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Unconnected
7
*  
 
 
Complex
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Simple
7
*  
 
 
Non-rhetorical
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Rhetorical
7
*  
 
 
Interesting
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Boring
7
*  
 
 
Free
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Constrained
7
*  
 
 
Abstract
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Concrete
7
*  
 
 
Assertive
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Unassertive
7
*  
 
 
Credible
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Untrustworthy
7
*  
 
 
Graceful
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Awkward
7
*  
 
 
Explicit
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Vague
7
*  
 
 
Non-evaluative
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Evaluative
7
*  
 
 
Bad
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Good
7
*  
 
 
Unrefined
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Elegant
7
*  
 
 
Precise
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Imprecise
7
*  
 
 
Opinionated
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Impartial
7
*  
 
 
Exciting
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Dull
7
*  
 
 
Organized
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Disorganized
7
*  
 
 
Unintelligible
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Intelligible
7
*  
 
 
Mild
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Aggressive
7
*  
 
 
Unimpressive
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Impressive
7
*  
 
 
Incohesive
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Cohesive
7
*  
 
 
Straightforward
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Indirect
7
*  
 
 
Persuasive
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Non-persuasive
7
*  
 
 
Satisfying
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Frustrating
7
*  
 
 
Elaborated
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Dense
7
*  
 
 
Perplexing
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Obvious
7
*  
 
 
Timid
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Bold
7
*  
 
 
Read textbook passage 2
 
 
 
You may now turn to the SECOND textbook passage in your packet. Please do not look at any of the other texts until you are instructed to do so.
 
 
 
* Please enter the number found in the UPPER LEFTHAND corner of the text:
   
 
 
 
Please read the entire text before moving on in the survey. Once you have finished reading this passage, please flip it over so that you cannot see it and click on the 'Continue' button below.
 
 
 
Rate textbook passage 2
 
 
 
Once again, please rate the textbook passage you just read on each of the scales in the next four pages. Try to be as precise as possible. There are no right or wrong answers.

Also, don't worry if some of the adjectives puzzle you. It is your intuitive response we want, so rate the text as you "feel" it should be judged.
 
 
 
Effective
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Ineffective
7
*  
 
 
Unstructured
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Structured
7
*  
 
 
Readable
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Unreadable
7
*  
 
 
Biased
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Unbiased
7
*  
 
 
Unsuccessful
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Successful
7
*  
 
 
Ordered
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Mixed-up
7
*  
 
 
Comprehensible
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Incomprehensible
7
*  
 
 
Uninfluential
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Influential
7
*  
 
 
Original
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Unoriginal
7
*  
 
 
Disjointed
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Coherent
7
*  
 
 
Easy
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Difficult
7
*  
 
 
Argumentative
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Informational
7
*  
 
 
Unpleasant
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Enjoyable
7
*  
 
 
Connected
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Unconnected
7
*  
 
 
Complex
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Simple
7
*  
 
 
Non-rhetorical
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Rhetorical
7
*  
 
 
Interesting
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Boring
7
*  
 
 
Free
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Constrained
7
*  
 
 
Abstract
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Concrete
7
*  
 
 
Assertive
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Unassertive
7
*  
 
 
Credible
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Untrustworthy
7
*  
 
 
Graceful
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Awkward
7
*  
 
 
Explicit
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Vague
7
*  
 
 
Non-evaluative
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Evaluative
7
*  
 
 
Bad
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Good
7
*  
 
 
Unrefined
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Elegant
7
*  
 
 
Precise
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Imprecise
7
*  
 
 
Opinionated
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Impartial
7
*  
 
 
Exciting
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Dull
7
*  
 
 
Organized
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Disorganized
7
*  
 
 
Unintelligible
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Intelligible
7
*  
 
 
Mild
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Aggressive
7
*  
 
 
Unimpressive
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Impressive
7
*  
 
 
Incohesive
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Cohesive
7
*  
 
 
Straightforward
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Indirect
7
*  
 
 
Persuasive
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Non-persuasive
7
*  
 
 
Satisfying
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Frustrating
7
*  
 
 
Elaborated
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Dense
7
*  
 
 
Perplexing
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Obvious
7
*  
 
 
Timid
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Bold
7
*  
 
 
Read textbook passage 3
 
 
 
At this point, please turn to the THIRD textbook passage in your packet. Please do not look at any of the other texts while rating this passage.
 
 
 
* Please enter the number found in the UPPER LEFTHAND corner of the text:
   
 
 
 
Please read the entire text before moving on in the survey. Once you have finished reading this passage, please flip it over so that you cannot see it and click on the 'Continue' button below.
 
 
 
Rate textbook passage 3
 
 
 
Again, please rate the textbook passage you just read on each of the scales in the next four pages. Try to be as precise as possible. There are no right or wrong answers.

Also, don't worry if some of the adjectives puzzle you. It is your intuitive response we want, so rate the text as you "feel" it should be judged.
 
 
 
Effective
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Ineffective
7
*  
 
 
Unstructured
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Structured
7
*  
 
 
Readable
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Unreadable
7
*  
 
 
Biased
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Unbiased
7
*  
 
 
Unsuccessful
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Successful
7
*  
 
 
Ordered
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Mixed-up
7
*  
 
 
Comprehensible
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Incomprehensible
7
*  
 
 
Uninfluential
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Influential
7
*  
 
 
Original
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Unoriginal
7
*  
 
 
Disjointed
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Coherent
7
*  
 
 
Easy
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Difficult
7
*  
 
 
Argumentative
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Informational
7
*  
 
 
Unpleasant
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Enjoyable
7
*  
 
 
Connected
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Unconnected
7
*  
 
 
Complex
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Simple
7
*  
 
 
Non-rhetorical
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Rhetorical
7
*  
 
 
Interesting
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Boring
7
*  
 
 
Free
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Constrained
7
*  
 
 
Abstract
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Concrete
7
*  
 
 
Assertive
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Unassertive
7
*  
 
 
Credible
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Untrustworthy
7
*  
 
 
Graceful
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Awkward
7
*  
 
 
Explicit
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Vague
7
*  
 
 
Non-evaluative
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Evaluative
7
*  
 
 
Bad
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Good
7
*  
 
 
Unrefined
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Elegant
7
*  
 
 
Precise
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Imprecise
7
*  
 
 
Opinionated
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Impartial
7
*  
 
 
Exciting
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Dull
7
*  
 
 
Organized
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Disorganized
7
*  
 
 
Unintelligible
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Intelligible
7
*  
 
 
Mild
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Aggressive
7
*  
 
 
Unimpressive
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Impressive
7
*  
 
 
Incohesive
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Cohesive
7
*  
 
 
Straightforward
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Indirect
7
*  
 
 
Persuasive
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Non-persuasive
7
*  
 
 
Satisfying
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Frustrating
7
*  
 
 
Elaborated
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Dense
7
*  
 
 
Perplexing
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Obvious
7
*  
 
 
Timid
1
2
3
4
5
6 		Bold
7
*  
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