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In this study, two versions of a consent form describing a pair test of a mouthwash product were developed. We created a Low Reading Level consent form, written at about the 6th grade level (according to the Flesh-Kincaid readability formula) and a High Reading Level form, written at about college graduate level. We tested comprehension of both forms. The readability level of the forms affected comprehension. ...

De wijze waarop informatie op intranet wordt gestructureerd heeft een effect op de efficiëntie en de effectiviteit waarmee gebruikers een taak uitvoeren. In de praktijk heeft intranet vaak een organisatiegerichte informatiestructuur. De literatuur draagt echter vooral argumenten aan om een taakgerichte structuur te gebruiken, met name voor informatie die gebruikers nodig hebben om taken uit te voeren. Dit artikel rapporteert de opzet en resultaten van een experiment waarin is onderzocht welke van beide structuren het meest succes heeft wanneer het gaat om zoeken naar en gebruiken van taakondersteunende informatie. De resultaten betreffen de efficiëntie en effectiviteit van de uit te ...

This research examines consumers' information acquisition and preference for labels of a simulated over-the-counter (OTC) medication. Twelve otherwise identical OTC drug bottles were compared with different back labels varying in (a) print size, (b) amount of white space between text, and (c) label design (standard vs extended/pull-out). A no back label condition served as a control. Older (mean age=77.7 years) and younger (mean age=21 years) adults were given one of the 12 bottles and asked to perform one of two information acquisition tasks: (a) they examined the bottle for 3 minutes and then completed a questionnaire with the bottle absent, ...

Two experiments studied effects of signaling devices (headings, overviews, and summaries) on text memory. In Exp 1, Ss read a text with or without signals, then recalled the topics of the text. Signaling produced better memory for the topics and their organization. In Exp 2, Ss recalled the content of the text they read, and recalls were scored for the number of accurately recalled ideas. Signals produced recalls that were better organized by text topics. Signals also influenced the distribution of recall of ideas: Ss remembered more topics but recalled less about each accessed topic if the text they read ...

Two experiments studied effects of signaling devices (headings, overviews, and summaries) on text memory. In Exp 1, Ss read a text with or without signals, then recalled the topics of the text. Signaling produced better memory for the topics and their organization. In Exp 2, Ss recalled the content of the text they read, and recalls were scored for the number of accurately recalled ideas. Signals produced recalls that were better organized by text topics. Signals also influenced the distribution of recall of ideas: Ss remembered more topics but recalled less about each accessed topic if the text they read ...

It was hypothesized that readers represent a text's topics and their interrelations as they read, then use their representations to access information about each topic. In two experiments, college subjects were required to read and free recall an expository text. Experiment 1 manipulated both the order of topics in the stimulus text and whether or not the introductory paragraph stated the topics and their organization. Subjects recalled information about fewer topics if the topics were randomly ordered and the introductory paragraph was uninformative than if topics were logically ordered or if the introductory paragraph was informative. Differences in recall of ...

People are frequently asked to make commitments by signing contracts, consent forms and other legal documents. Although it is prudent to read these forms carefully, people sometimes do not do so. The present research sought to assess some of the factors related to the usability of legal documents. In study 1, participants reported that they had signed a variety of legal documents that they did not fully read or understand. They also identified characteristics that hinder understanding and offered suggestions for improvement. In study 2, another group of participants rated those characteristics and confirmed the first study's findings. Study 3 ...

People are frequently asked to make commitments by signing contracts, consent forms and other legal documents. Although it is prudent to read these forms carefully, people sometimes do not do so. The present research sought to assess some of the factors related to the usability of legal documents. In study 1, participants reported that they had signed a variety of legal documents that they did not fully read or understand. They also identified characteristics that hinder understanding and offered suggestions for improvement. In study 2, another group of participants rated those characteristics and confirmed the first study's findings. Study 3 ...

It was hypothesized that readers represent a text's topics and their interrelations as they read, then use their representations to access information about each topic. In two experiments, college subjects were required to read and free recall an expository text. Experiment 1 manipulated both the order of topics in the stimulus text and whether or not the introductory paragraph stated the topics and their organization. Subjects recalled information about fewer topics if the topics were randomly ordered and the introductory paragraph was uninformative than if topics were logically ordered or if the introductory paragraph was informative. Differences in recall of ...

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the usefulness of developing health education materials with a theoretical and empirical research basis. With a specific focus on increasing knowledge, the authors utilized well-researched principles in cognitive psychology to increase the message comprehension of an existing health education brochure. The brochure used was produced by a Dutch national campaign office for preventing alcohol abuse among undergraduate students. In two experimental studies, the original version of the brochure was compared with the theory-based modified version on measures of knowledge and psychosocial determinants of alcohol use among undergraduate university students. The results show ...