Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Decomposing the Variance in Reading Comprehension to Reveal the Unique and Common Effects of Language and Decoding
Published on: October 11, 2018
Easy-to-read language in disability-friendly web sites: Effects on nondisabled users
Sven Schmutz1, Andreas Sonderegger1, Juergen Sauer1
1Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
Abstract:
This article examines the influence of using easy-to-read language (as an important web accessibility criterion to support users with disabilities) on nondisabled users. A web site usability test was conducted with 128 nondisabled participants. Each participant evaluated one of two web site versions: conventional language vs. easy-to-read language. Measures of performance (e.g., recognition of content and reading time) and subjective user reactions (e.g., perceived usability and text liking) were taken. The results showed that easy-to-read language (compared to conventional language) led to improvements for some performance measures (e.g., recognition of content) but also to increased reading time, decreased text liking and reduced intention to revisit the web site. This article concludes that when implementing easy-to-read language in web sites, adverse as well as beneficial effects on nondisabled users need to be considered.
Related Concept Videos
Framing Effects
Intellectual Disability
Learning Disabilities
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
Language
Corballis and Suddendorf (2007) and Tomasello and Rakoczy (2003) highlight the role of language in...
Uncertainty in Measurement: Reading Instruments
Conserved Binding Sites
Binding sites are often located in large pockets, and if their location on a protein’s surface is unknown, it can be predicted using various approaches. The energetic method computationally...

