Community Perspectives on Communicating in Plain Language
Plain Language is communication that people can easily understand. Community Perspectives on Communicating in Plain Language primer is designed to help researchers connect with individuals and communities using Plain Language.
Executive Summary
Hypothesis: Communication in Plain Language between researchers and community members/community-based organizations can improve comprehension, community engagement and build trust among diverse communities.
Aim: Community Perspectives on Communicating in Plain Language is a primer that aims to serve as a resource for researchers when creating materials for the public by providing tips on how to use Plain Language in academic and scientific research. Plain Language, defined as clear and straightforward communication, is accessible language that enables readers of varied literacy levels to access and understand the information provided. This primer and related research study seek to overcome barriers to comprehension by promoting communication in Plain Language. The primer emphasizes that by presenting scientific information in Plain Language, research becomes more approachable and stronger connections can be fostered between researchers and the public. Stronger connections encourage broader participation in studies ultimately leading to more representation and inclusiveness in research.
Methods: A qualitative study was implemented between February 2023 through August 2024. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with 50 community partners and their community engagement staff from the Western New York region including underrepresented groups such as rural communities and individuals with disabilities. The participants' general views on communication and how they communicate within their communities were explored. Additional questions aimed to understand participants' preferences and collected ideas for improving communication between their communities and research.
Results: Rapid analysis of the interview transcripts identified key barriers to research communication such as use of technical language, lack of relevance to communities, and inaccessible materials. The findings emphasized the need for clear and visually appealing communication. A primer was created for researchers to showcase community preferences and provide tips on design and graphics for creating materials such as recruitment flyers.
Conclusion: The primer highlights the benefits of communicating in Plain Language. Communication in Plain Language not only makes research more accessible but also cultivates trust and engagement with communities that have been historically mistreated and underrepresented in the research field.
Interested in receiving a copy of Community Perspectives on Communicating in Plain Language? See excerpts below and contact us for your copy. Watch a CTSI Open Research Office session to learn more about the primer.
Community Perspectives on Communicating in Plain Language is comprised of five chapters and appendices excerpted below.
Chapter 5: Plain Language in Resources
Introduction to Recruitment Flyer Critique
Often times when researchers create recruitment flyers for their studies, they think of what the Institutional Review Board (IRB) will approve and not so much about how the community will understand the flyer content. As a part of the interview, we asked participants to review a study recruitment flyer and critique whether it is community friendly. The Food-ittude Study Team gave us permission to use its study flyer as an example. The participants noted what they liked and what needed improvement, as well as their first impressions and overall design and tone of the study flyer.
From this critique and other questions in the interview, we developed a Plain Language Checklist that is a tool to use when designing a study flyer. (The checklist is located in the Appendix.) Also, we developed a template for a community-friendly study recruitment flyer. This template and an example are in the Appendix.