Abstract:
This plain language study explored whether the average soldier could read and comprehend the Army’s human resources information and whether the average grade level completed for soldiers was the same as the average reading grade level of human resources documents. A random sampling of 250 Army human resources documents were scored for reading ease and grade level using the Flesch-Kincaid reading ease tool. The average educational attainment of soldiers, based on Department of Defense data, established a target grade level score of equal to or less than nine and a reading ease score of equal to or above 60. The results of a one-sample t-test indicate that there is a statistically significant difference between the mean reading ease score of 23.8 for the Army’ human resources information and the mean reading ability of 60 for soldiers. The results of an additional one-sample t-test for grade level also indicate that there is a statistically significance difference between the reading grade level score of nine for soldiers and the average reading grade level of 14 for the Army’s human resources information. The mean reading ease score of the Army’s human resources information would have to be almost 40 points higher on the Flesch- Kincaid reading ease scale and four to five grade levels lower to be easily understood by the average soldier. Utilizing transfer theory, which is grounded in the theory of pragmatism and calls for academics to share practical, real-world solutions with practioners, this study proposes the implementation of a Plain Language Checklist. This checklist could help the Army develop clearer, easier to understand information. Plain language human resources information would benefit the careers of individual soldiers who need to be able to understand and act on benefits, promotion, training, and education opportunities while saving HRC resources in terms of employees time and enhancing the Army’s talent management initiatives and overall recruiting and retention goals.
Keywords: Plain Language, Readability, Military, U.S. Army, Flesch-Kincaid reading ease, Human Resources