STEP 5: Pre-test and revise draft materials.
Have you planned for pre-tests?
Pre-testing is a way of measuring audience response to a product. It is an
essential step for developing culturally relevant materials. Pre-testing
helps ensure that your readers understand your messages. Four important
factors to test for include: (1) comprehension, (2) audience attraction
to the product, (3) its acceptability to them, and (4) their personal involvement
with the material (3). Often these qualities can be assessed by showing materials
to experts in the health care field who work with your target population
or else to members of the population themselves.
Have you considered focus groups?
As mentioned earlier, a focus group is a small group of individuals from
your target audience who may review your materials, discuss them, then render
suggestions and evaluations. Be sure to convince your focus group that you
seek a frank evaluation, for they may initially want to please you. Tell
them you are seeking critical options and realistic judgments as to how
the materials would be used and if the message is appropriate.
Have you made copies of the check list on the inside cover of this report?
The checklist on the inside cover has been formatted for easy reproduction
on any office copier; use it freely. Use the checklist to guide the development
of all your materials.
3 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Clear and Simple: Developing
Effective Print Materials for Low-Literate Readers. National Cancer Institute,
NIH Publication No. 95-3594, December 1994, pp. 44-51.
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