Develop creative messages that can trigger sustained behaviour change

1. Nicol Cave – nicolc@spc.int
PRE-TESTING
… is essential…

2. Nicol Cave – nicolc@spc.int
• Assess comprehension and readability.
• Assess recall of the messages.
• Determine whether the personal benefits are strong enough to
promote behaviour change.
• Look for sensitive or controversial elements.
• Avoid unintended messages!
WHY PRE-TEST?

3. Nicol Cave – nicolc@spc.int
PRE-TESTING!!

4. Nicol Cave – nicolc@spc.int
 Culturally
appropriate?
 Acceptable?
 Image relevant
to target
audience?

5. Nicol Cave – nicolc@spc.int

6. Nicol Cave – nicolc@spc.int
BEFORE PRE-TESTING
AFTER PRE-TESTING

7. Nicol Cave – nicolc@spc.int
Tonga – before expert review

8. Nicol Cave – nicolc@spc.int
TONGA – after expert review

9. Nicol Cave – nicolc@spc.int
BEFORE PRE-TESTING
AFTER PRE-TESTING

10. Nicol Cave – nicolc@spc.int
BEFORE PRE-TESTING AFTER PRE-TESTING

11. Nicol Cave – nicolc@spc.int
PRE-TESTING PROCESS
1. Expert Review
– Medical expert - accuracy (doctor/nurse)
– SHC/BCC expert – good practice & effectiveness
– Production/design expert – quality
2. Stakeholder Review
– Check contextually appropriate/ relevant/ acceptable
– NGOs, Ministry of Health, Peer Educators
3. Target Audience Review
– Focus group discussions (FGD)
– Paired discussions
– surveys

12. Nicol Cave – nicolc@spc.int
PRE-TESTING COMMUNICATION PRODUCTS
• Understand the main message & benefits?
• Interesting/Appealing/Attractive?
• Acceptable/not offensive?
• Relevant? Reflect your reality?
• Motivational? Make you want to act?
• Message Recall (at end of discussion)

13. Nicol Cave – nicolc@spc.int
PRE-TESTING COMMUNICATION ACTIVITIES
1. Does the game achieve its LEARNING OBJECTIVE?
2. Is it PARTICIPATORY?
3. Is it FUN, INTERESTING, ENJOYABLE?
– Too easy; too boring; too difficult?
4. Are the instructions easy to understand?
5. Is there recall of the key messages? (at end of
discussion or game)

14. Nicol Cave – nicolc@spc.int
Are your materials and activities …
• Understandable?
• Believable?
• Personally relevant?
• Culturally relevant?
• Attention-getting?
• Memorable?
• Do-able?

15. Nicol Cave – nicolc@spc.int
TOP TIPS #1
• Be prepared. Practice the questions.
• Be familiar with questions, so its more like a conversation.
“Fail to prepare and prepare to fail”
• Explain the purpose of the FGD & the process (what you will
discuss).
• Get participants consent to be part of the research.

16. Nicol Cave – nicolc@spc.int
TIP #2
• Be patient. Relax. They will talk eventually.
• 2 ears & one mouth!!!
• Participation. Ensure all participate.
– “Any other ideas?”; “anyone else want to add”
– Do you all agree?
• Not a teaching/educating opportunity.

17. Nicol Cave – nicolc@spc.int
TOP #3
• NOTE-TAKING
– Details, details, details…..
– Use participants numbers – VERY IMPORTANT
• TEAM WORK
– Signals between facilitator & note takers: e.g.
• DE-BRIEF & SUMMARY CONCLUSIONS

18. Nicol Cave – nicolc@spc.int
FACILITATOR ROLE
• People feel comfortable.
• No right or wrong answers
• Stimulate discussion.
• Make sure everyone has a chance to talk.

19. Nicol Cave – nicolc@spc.int
NOTE TAKER ROLE
• Take DETAILED NOTES
• Keep TIME!!
• Note down points of disagreement.

20. Nicol Cave – nicolc@spc.int
EXPERT REVIEW QUESTIONS
a) Key questions for content experts
• Is this product accurate? - Is there any new information that contradicts
• Is this product motivational?
• Can you suggest a better way to present this information?
• If you were developing this material for the target audience, what changes would
you make in the words? In the illustrations?
b) Key questions for production experts
• Will these colors show up on the poster/pamphlet?
• Is this print large enough to attract people?
• Is there enough white space on this page?
• Is the border of the page large enough?