Cairney, P., & Sless, D. (1982). Communication effectiveness of symbolic safety signs with different user groups. Applied Ergonomics, 13(2), 91-97.

Cairney, P.; Sless, D.

1982

Cairney, P., & Sless, D. (1982). Communication effectiveness of symbolic safety signs with different user groups. Applied Ergonomics, 13(2), 91-97.

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Contrary to popular belief, little systematic evaluation has been undertaken of how well public information signs convey their intended message. The application of a proposed evaluation procedure, involving an initial Recognition Test and a subsequent Recall Test, to a set of occupational safety signs is reported. Respondents comprised migrants and native-born Australians attending adult literacy classes, including a group of recently-arrived Vietnamese. Despite inter-group differences in the total number of signs correctly identified on both Recognition and Recall Tests, the same signs gave rise to difficulty for all groups. The sources of difficulty are discussed in terms of distinctiveness of referents, comprehension of shape and colour code, and translation from symbol to referent. The implications of the test results for user education programmes is also considered.

Despite inter-group differences in the total number of signs correctly identified on both Recognition and Recall Tests, the same signs gave rise to difficulty for all groups. The sources of difficulty are discussed in terms of distinctiveness of referents, comprehension of shape and colour code, and translation from symbol to referent.

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