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Improving Readability of an Evaluation Tool for Low-income Clients Using Visual Information Processing Theories

Literacy is an issue for many low-income audiences. Using visual information processing theories, the goal was improving readability of a food behavior checklist and ultimately improving its ability to accurately capture existing changes in dietary behaviors. Using group interviews, low-income clien...

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Published in:Journal of nutrition education and behavior 2008-05, Vol.40 (3), p.181-186
Main Authors: Townsend, Marilyn S., PhD, RD, Sylva, Kathryn, MA, Martin, Anna, MA, Metz, Diane, MA, Wooten-Swanson, Patti, PhD
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description Literacy is an issue for many low-income audiences. Using visual information processing theories, the goal was improving readability of a food behavior checklist and ultimately improving its ability to accurately capture existing changes in dietary behaviors. Using group interviews, low-income clients (n = 18) evaluated 4 visual styles. The text plus color photographs style was preferred over the other 3 visual styles: text only, text plus black and white line drawings, and text plus gray-scale photographs. Employing cognitive interviewing in an iterative process, clients (n = 25) recommended simplifying text for 10 items, modifying content for 15 of 16 visuals, and replacing text with visual content for 7 of 16 items. Professional staff (n = 7) and educators (n = 10) verified that visuals and revised text accurately reflected the content of each item. Clients reported that the revised checklist captured their attention, added pleasure to the evaluation process, improved their understanding of the behaviors in question, and facilitated comprehension of text. Readability scores improved by more than 2 grades. This process can be duplicated by others interested in enhancing the quality of existing evaluation tools.
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source ScienceDirect Freedom Collection 2022-2024; ERIC
subjects Behavior Rating Scales
Check Lists
Client Characteristics
Cognitive Processes
community nutrition programs
Comprehension
Diet
Eating Habits
educational materials
Educational Status
EFNEP
Evaluation Research
exchange lists
Food
FSNE
Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Health Behavior
Health education
Health Education - methods
Humans
Information Processing
Internal Medicine
Interviews
Layout (Publications)
Literacy
Low Income
Low income groups
low income households
low-literacy
Measures (Individuals)
Nutrition
nutrition education
nutrition information
Nutritional Sciences - education
Patient Education as Topic
photographic interpretation
Photography
Poverty
Professional Personnel
Program Evaluation
Readability
Reading
Teachers
Test Construction
Use Studies
Visual Aids
visual information processing
Visual Stimuli
Vulnerable Populations
title Improving Readability of an Evaluation Tool for Low-income Clients Using Visual Information Processing Theories
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