A Text Complexity Continuum of Multimodality in Science Books

This study presents a Text Complexity Continuum of Multimodality in Science Books from recently published lists of award-winning science books. This text complexity continuum considers factors such as the degree to which the text layout is linear or nonlinear, the range of visuals present, the interactive nature of multimodal elements, and the density of information, including the text and visuals contained across pages. Using content analysis methods, texts were coded and organized into a hierarchical continuum of multimodality to represent the complexity of information presented. This text complexity continuum adds to the literature by acknowledging that the demands of science texts go beyond the written word to also include challenges from layout and visuals. The Text Complexity Continuum of Multimodality in Science Books can be used by researchers and educators to better inform literacy instruction regarding the demands readers face accessing and comprehending information from science books.