Toward a Clearer Democracy: The Readability of Idaho Supreme Court Opinions as a Measure of the Court’s Democratic Legitimacy
DeFriez, Brian Matthew. (2017). Toward a Clearer Democracy: The Readability of Idaho Supreme Court Opinions as a Measure of the Court’s Democratic Legitimacy. Theses and Dissertations Collection, University of Idaho Library Digital Collections. https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/etd/items/defriez_idaho_0089e_11182.html
- Title:
- Toward a Clearer Democracy: The Readability of Idaho Supreme Court Opinions as a Measure of the Court’s Democratic Legitimacy
- Author:
- DeFriez, Brian Matthew
- Date:
- 2017
- Program:
- Political Science
- Subject Category:
- Political science
- Abstract:
-
This study analyzes the quantitative and qualitative readability of Idaho Supreme Court opinions from 1891 to the present. It does so using a statistically relevant sample of 371 court opinions. First, it examines the readability of court opinions using the Flesch readability tests results and compares them with the more qualitatively relevant Style test results. The study also performs and examines several linear regression tests to confirm its earlier correlation findings and to see if certain variables further affect readability out-comes.
Next, this study examines the issue of opinion readability using two textual analysis models from political science literature. First, it applies Donald Lutz’s textual completeness model of analysis. Second, it applies Martin Landau’s system redundancy model. Citing to illustrations from the Court opinions, it uses these models to demonstrate how text com-pleteness and textual redundancy are superior assessment models for readability.
Based on these analyses, this study concludes that Idaho Supreme Court opinions are becoming more readable over time.
- Description:
- doctoral, Ph.D., Political Science -- University of Idaho - College of Graduate Studies, 2017
- Major Professor:
- Ellison, Brian A.
- Committee:
- McLeod, Aman; Lund, William R.; Afatchao, Romuald
- Defense Date:
- 2017
- Identifier:
- DeFriez_idaho_0089E_11182
- Type:
- Text
- Format Original:
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Rights:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted. For more information, please contact University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives Department at libspec@uidaho.edu.
- Standardized Rights:
- http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/