What term describes nonsense words that have phonetic regularity?

The term that describes nonsense words with phonetic regularity is known as pseudowords. Pseudowords are constructed to follow the phonological rules of a particular language, making them pronounceable yet devoid of any actual meaning. They are commonly used in literacy assessments and research to evaluate a reader’s phonemic awareness and decoding skills without the influence of familiar vocabulary.

In educational contexts, pseudowords can help educators understand how well a student can apply their knowledge of sound-letter correspondences. By using words that do not have any pre-existing associations, practitioners can more accurately gauge a student's ability to decode and encode phonetic patterns, which is a critical skill in developing reading proficiency.

The other options provided do not relate to this concept. Qualitative and quantitative research pertain to different methods of data collection and analysis rather than specific language or phonological terms. Formative data is generally gathered to inform instructional strategies and processes, but it does not pertain specifically to the concept of nonsense words. Thus, the most appropriate term for nonsense words that exhibit phonetic regularity is indeed pseudowords.