Readability of Waiver of Liability Forms Used in Collegiate Intramural and Recreational Sports Programs

Abstract

Waiver of liability forms should be written at a reading level consistent with that of the intended audience. On average, students read three grade levels below the last grade they completed in school. Therefore, waivers should be written no higher then the ninth-grade level. The main goal of this study was to assess the reading level of intramural and recreational sport waiver of liability forms, compared to the ninth-grade level. Nine NIRSA member schools and nine non-NIRSA member schools were randomly selected from each of NIRSA's six regions. Readability was assessed using the Readability Calculation software (Micro Power & Light, Dallas, TX) for MacIntosh. A one-sample t-test was performed to compare the forms to the ninth-grade reading level. Forms were written significantly higher than the ninth-grade level (t[26]=14.53, p<.0001). An analysis of variance was performed to assess possible moderating variables. No significant differences were found. Font size was also measured, and forms were found to have been written at a significantly higher level then the recommended 12-point font (t[28]=-2.88, p<.01). This study brings into question the efficacy of waiver of liability forms used in many collegiate/university intramural and recreational sports programs.