Dowse, Ros, and Martina S. Ehlers. “The Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Pictograms in a Low-Literate South African Population”. Patient Education and Counseling 45, no. 2 (2001): 87-99.
This research study compared how locally developed pharmeceutical pictograms compared to pictograms that were developed without end user input. Pictograms created without participatory design were paired with a locally developed pictogram that had the same meaning. This study took place in South Africa among a group of 46 people who had attended school for a maximum of 7 years.
Participants were first asked to provide their interpretation of each pictogram. Three weeks later, they were polled again. Participants also stated their preference for the localized or the generic pictograms. At the end of the study 20 of the 23 locally developed pictograms rated at greater than 85% comprehension, compared to just 11 of 23 generic pictograms.
This study shows that there is value in creating pictograms with end user input. Each culture has a unique way of looking at the world and interpreting information. These unique viewpoints affect how we perceive all kinds of things, even something as simple as a line drawing of a body part. While the sample size of this study is small, it would be a great starting point for additional research. Other cultures could be studied--even regional differences could be studied.
Showing posts with label participatory design. Show all posts
Showing posts with label participatory design. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Pictograms and Participatory Design
Hyeoneui, Kim, Carlos Nakamura, and Qing Zeng-Treitler. “Assessment of Pictographs
Developed Through a Participatory Design Process Using an Online Survey Tool. “Journal of Medical Internet Research 11, no. 1 (2009). http://www.jmir.org/2009/1/e5/(accessed March 21, 2011).
This journal article outlines a study done comparing the efficacy of pictograms developed using participatory design to pictograms developed without end user input. Participants assessed both types of pictograms using an online assessment tool, where they picked a phrase they felt most accurately represented the meaning of the pictogram. Participants were randomly selected from a group of the researchers' colleagues and acquaintances. The researchers analyzed the responses and determined that the pictograms developed using participatory design were more effective than those developed without end user input.
One drawback of this study is that the researchers used a convenience sample of acquaintances and colleagues. As the researchers work in the healthcare system (one of them works at a department within Harvard Medical School), their colleagues and acquaintances are likely to be better educated and more technically savvy than the average American. While the researchers discussed the problem of low health literacy levels in America, the sampling strategy they chose couldn't have been very representative.
Another drawback I noticed was that the pictograms created using participatory design (PD) weren't expressing the same concepts as the other pictograms being analyzed. The PD pictograms expressed home care or medication compliance concepts, like "come to the emergency room if you can't eat food", "take this drug on an empty stomach", or "don't take tub showers". The other pictograms were really designed to help patients with wayfinding within hospitals, helping them find departments like like "Social Service", "Outpatient Care, and "Diabetes Education". The researchers did recognize this limitation, but stated that they were really trying to analyze pictograph recognition rather then a direct comparison. Still, I think this study would have been more useful if they employed a direct comparison method.
Developed Through a Participatory Design Process Using an Online Survey Tool. “Journal of Medical Internet Research 11, no. 1 (2009). http://www.jmir.org/2009/1/e5/(accessed March 21, 2011).
This journal article outlines a study done comparing the efficacy of pictograms developed using participatory design to pictograms developed without end user input. Participants assessed both types of pictograms using an online assessment tool, where they picked a phrase they felt most accurately represented the meaning of the pictogram. Participants were randomly selected from a group of the researchers' colleagues and acquaintances. The researchers analyzed the responses and determined that the pictograms developed using participatory design were more effective than those developed without end user input.
One drawback of this study is that the researchers used a convenience sample of acquaintances and colleagues. As the researchers work in the healthcare system (one of them works at a department within Harvard Medical School), their colleagues and acquaintances are likely to be better educated and more technically savvy than the average American. While the researchers discussed the problem of low health literacy levels in America, the sampling strategy they chose couldn't have been very representative.
Another drawback I noticed was that the pictograms created using participatory design (PD) weren't expressing the same concepts as the other pictograms being analyzed. The PD pictograms expressed home care or medication compliance concepts, like "come to the emergency room if you can't eat food", "take this drug on an empty stomach", or "don't take tub showers". The other pictograms were really designed to help patients with wayfinding within hospitals, helping them find departments like like "Social Service", "Outpatient Care, and "Diabetes Education". The researchers did recognize this limitation, but stated that they were really trying to analyze pictograph recognition rather then a direct comparison. Still, I think this study would have been more useful if they employed a direct comparison method.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Localization as it relates to participatory design.
Maylath, Bruce, and Emily A. Thrush. “Café, The, Ou Lait?: Teaching Technical Communicators to Manage Translation and Localization,” in Managing Global Communication in Science and Technology, ed. Peter J. Hager and H.J. Scheiber (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2000), 233-254.
While I initially passed this article over when looking for items for my bibliography, I eventually determined that it was more relevant than I first thought. The article describes how to educate technical communicators on managing translation and localization issues. Localization is really at the heart of participatory design--it makes the content, visual or otherwise, relevant to the end user.
Maylath and Thrush state that international and intercultural issues receive limited coverage in technical communication textbooks, at least at the time this article was published (2000). While I haven't experienced this (my first class in the Technical Communication certificate program was a Topics in International Technical Communication course), I have noticed that localization seems to be mentioned more and more frequently in trade articles about technical communication.
While much of the article covers language and translation issues, the writers spend time discussing cultural differences and how they impact localization. For example, the article mentions a study of faxes sent and received from a Finnish export company written. Nearly half of these faxes were written in English, and almost all were written by non-native English speakers. The authors noted that just because a common language is shared, it doesn't mean that misunderstandings are eliminated. The same principle is true for developing visuals. Regional differences can greatly impact how one interprets the meaning of the visual.
The article also mentions that visuals may be used differently in different cultures. Annual reports from Japanese companies use graphics to enhance esthetics, which American readers of the reports found confusing.
While I initially passed this article over when looking for items for my bibliography, I eventually determined that it was more relevant than I first thought. The article describes how to educate technical communicators on managing translation and localization issues. Localization is really at the heart of participatory design--it makes the content, visual or otherwise, relevant to the end user.
Maylath and Thrush state that international and intercultural issues receive limited coverage in technical communication textbooks, at least at the time this article was published (2000). While I haven't experienced this (my first class in the Technical Communication certificate program was a Topics in International Technical Communication course), I have noticed that localization seems to be mentioned more and more frequently in trade articles about technical communication.
While much of the article covers language and translation issues, the writers spend time discussing cultural differences and how they impact localization. For example, the article mentions a study of faxes sent and received from a Finnish export company written. Nearly half of these faxes were written in English, and almost all were written by non-native English speakers. The authors noted that just because a common language is shared, it doesn't mean that misunderstandings are eliminated. The same principle is true for developing visuals. Regional differences can greatly impact how one interprets the meaning of the visual.
The article also mentions that visuals may be used differently in different cultures. Annual reports from Japanese companies use graphics to enhance esthetics, which American readers of the reports found confusing.
Participatory design in health communiction
Neuhauser, Linda. “Participatory Design for Better Interactive Health Communication: A Statewide Model in the USA.” The Electronic Journal of Communucation 11, no 3 and 4(2001). http://www.cios.org/EJCPUBLIC/011/3/01134.html (accessed March 21, 2011).
This journal article describes how families and people with disabilities worked with the state of California to create a hard-copy and online wellness guides. The state identified three primary goals for the health information. It must
-have content relevant for people with diabilities
-connect the user with local services
-be accessible to users with diabilities, 6th grade literacy levels, and those who read Spanish.
The hard-copy materials were developed first, with the websites following 10 years later. The website took 4 years to produce. The state took great care to find a representative sample of end users, including parents in the correctional system. Hundreds of people with diabilities were also involved in the design of the print and online guides, which marked a departure from the previous process. In the past, people with disabilities weren't considered "typical" users of materials, and were excluded from the design process. All too often, content is developed for a specific culture or language, and the organization forgets about the unique needs of people with disabilities, who represent every culture and language possible. It is heartening to see the inclusion of this often-marginalized group in this particular design process.
While the content developed for the state of California aren't as relevant to my research question, this article offers a tremendous amount of information regarding the history of participatory design and why it is an effective way to create information for a specific audience. Neuhauser even states that when people help organizations design health information, it positively impacts their health. Participation increases self-control and self-efficacy. Perceived sense of self-control is noted as a variable that is closely linked to health status. A high sense of self-control is linked with better health.
Neuhauser links participatory design to accessibility, usability and participatory action research. Remote She also provides a long bibliography and a number of related websites that are very helpful for someone seeking to learn more about participatory design and related methods.
This journal article describes how families and people with disabilities worked with the state of California to create a hard-copy and online wellness guides. The state identified three primary goals for the health information. It must
-have content relevant for people with diabilities
-connect the user with local services
-be accessible to users with diabilities, 6th grade literacy levels, and those who read Spanish.
The hard-copy materials were developed first, with the websites following 10 years later. The website took 4 years to produce. The state took great care to find a representative sample of end users, including parents in the correctional system. Hundreds of people with diabilities were also involved in the design of the print and online guides, which marked a departure from the previous process. In the past, people with disabilities weren't considered "typical" users of materials, and were excluded from the design process. All too often, content is developed for a specific culture or language, and the organization forgets about the unique needs of people with disabilities, who represent every culture and language possible. It is heartening to see the inclusion of this often-marginalized group in this particular design process.
While the content developed for the state of California aren't as relevant to my research question, this article offers a tremendous amount of information regarding the history of participatory design and why it is an effective way to create information for a specific audience. Neuhauser even states that when people help organizations design health information, it positively impacts their health. Participation increases self-control and self-efficacy. Perceived sense of self-control is noted as a variable that is closely linked to health status. A high sense of self-control is linked with better health.
Neuhauser links participatory design to accessibility, usability and participatory action research. Remote She also provides a long bibliography and a number of related websites that are very helpful for someone seeking to learn more about participatory design and related methods.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Translating Global Recommendations on HIV and Infant Feeding to the Local Context: The Development of Culturally Sensitive Counseling Tools in the Ki
Leshabari, Sebalda C., Peggy Koniz-Booher, Anne N. Astrom, Marina M. de Paoli, and Karen M. Moland. “Translating Global Recommendations on HIV and Infant Feeding to the Local Context: The Development of Culturally Sensitive Counseling Tools in the Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania.” Implementation Science 1, no. 22 (October 3, 2006). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/
pmc/articles/PMC1599750/ (accessed February 10, 2011).
This journal article describes how researchers worked with women in Tanzania to develop culturally sensitive material about breastfeeding practices. Specifically, researchers sought to develop culturally relevant “job aids” to help women with HIV reduce the risk of passing the virus to their breastfeeding infants. While women with HIV are generally advised to avoid breastfeeding, in some areas access to formula or animal milk is limited, or these alternatives are just too expensive for women to purchase.HIV positive women who alternate between feeding their baby breastmilk and breastmilk substitutes has been shown to increase the risk of HIV transmission from mother to infant. Researchers interviewed community elders, birth attendants, health care workers, and conducted focus groups with community members to determine attitudes on breastfeeding, safe sex, and ways to decrease HIV transmission to infants. Researchers also took digital photos that were adapted into colorful illustrations for the educational material. The illustrations were field tested in the focus groups. Upon reviewing data gained from interviews and focus groups, researchers determined a set of performance objectives for HIV positive mothers—to exclusively breastfeed for up to6 months, or exclusively replacement feed. Researchers developed materials first in English to outline these objectives. The material was then translated into Swahili. While the materials incorporated quite a bit of text, colorful illustrations were also included for to enhance comprehension. The illustrations included aspects of the culture and locally available technologies to the reader could better identify with the situation depicted in the illustration. This article could be a useful case study on how to use a participatory approach to design culturally relevant materials for non-Western audiences.
pmc/articles/PMC1599750/ (accessed February 10, 2011).
This journal article describes how researchers worked with women in Tanzania to develop culturally sensitive material about breastfeeding practices. Specifically, researchers sought to develop culturally relevant “job aids” to help women with HIV reduce the risk of passing the virus to their breastfeeding infants. While women with HIV are generally advised to avoid breastfeeding, in some areas access to formula or animal milk is limited, or these alternatives are just too expensive for women to purchase.HIV positive women who alternate between feeding their baby breastmilk and breastmilk substitutes has been shown to increase the risk of HIV transmission from mother to infant. Researchers interviewed community elders, birth attendants, health care workers, and conducted focus groups with community members to determine attitudes on breastfeeding, safe sex, and ways to decrease HIV transmission to infants. Researchers also took digital photos that were adapted into colorful illustrations for the educational material. The illustrations were field tested in the focus groups. Upon reviewing data gained from interviews and focus groups, researchers determined a set of performance objectives for HIV positive mothers—to exclusively breastfeed for up to6 months, or exclusively replacement feed. Researchers developed materials first in English to outline these objectives. The material was then translated into Swahili. While the materials incorporated quite a bit of text, colorful illustrations were also included for to enhance comprehension. The illustrations included aspects of the culture and locally available technologies to the reader could better identify with the situation depicted in the illustration. This article could be a useful case study on how to use a participatory approach to design culturally relevant materials for non-Western audiences.
A Participatory Approach to Communication for Developing Countries
Andrews, Deborah C. “A Participatory Approach to Communication for Developing Countries,” in Managing Global Communication in Science and Technology, ed. Peter J. Hager and H.J. Scheiber (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2000), 67-83.
This article, which appears as a chapter within the book Managing Global Communication in Science and Technology, outlines the complexities involved when developing solutions to problems in developing countries. The author advises that organizations can only develop effective solutions to problems by listening to the voice of the local people. The article advises that soliciting feedback from local people empowers them and makes them more fully vested in the outcome of the project. The author cites several case studies, and also reviews how focus group discussions (FGDs)can be used to facilitate feedback. The article specifically focuses on how one non-governmental organization (NGO) called Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) uses FGDs to design health information materials. Initially, PATH determines the level of audience (policy/decision makers, program managers, clinicians, fieldworkers, or clients), profiles their needs, then develops their message. The message is then tested on audience to see if it meets their needs. The article provides 6 different sets of visuals that were created and then adapted based on this feedback. One specific image was designed to show Kenyans that pregnant women should carry lighter loads than women who aren’t pregnant. The initial image depicted a woman carrying a heavy load with an “X” superimposed over the women’s figure. Low-literate audiences in Kenya initially did not understand the meaning of the “X”, so the image was redesigned to show a visibly pregnant woman carrying a smaller load than a non-pregnant woman. I feel that this article and its accompanying bibliography could prove helpful for my paper, as it outlines specific research done with the assistance and input of the local people.
This article, which appears as a chapter within the book Managing Global Communication in Science and Technology, outlines the complexities involved when developing solutions to problems in developing countries. The author advises that organizations can only develop effective solutions to problems by listening to the voice of the local people. The article advises that soliciting feedback from local people empowers them and makes them more fully vested in the outcome of the project. The author cites several case studies, and also reviews how focus group discussions (FGDs)can be used to facilitate feedback. The article specifically focuses on how one non-governmental organization (NGO) called Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) uses FGDs to design health information materials. Initially, PATH determines the level of audience (policy/decision makers, program managers, clinicians, fieldworkers, or clients), profiles their needs, then develops their message. The message is then tested on audience to see if it meets their needs. The article provides 6 different sets of visuals that were created and then adapted based on this feedback. One specific image was designed to show Kenyans that pregnant women should carry lighter loads than women who aren’t pregnant. The initial image depicted a woman carrying a heavy load with an “X” superimposed over the women’s figure. Low-literate audiences in Kenya initially did not understand the meaning of the “X”, so the image was redesigned to show a visibly pregnant woman carrying a smaller load than a non-pregnant woman. I feel that this article and its accompanying bibliography could prove helpful for my paper, as it outlines specific research done with the assistance and input of the local people.
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