Gabrielle Wong?Parodi|Wändi Bruine de Bruin|Casey Canfield
Effects of simplifying outreach materials for energy conservation programs that target low-income consumers
Carnegie Mellon University|Carnegie Mellon University|University of Leeds|Carnegie Mellon University
critics speculated limited success energy conservation programs among lowincome consumers may partly due recipients insufficient literacy understand outreach materials indeed found outreach materials lowincome consumers require relatively high levels reading comprehension therefore improved fleschkincaid readability statistics two outreach brochures using shorter words shorter sentences describe content examined effect simplification lowincome consumers responses participants lowincome communities greater pittsburgh area varied literacy randomly assigned either original communications energy conservation programs simplified versions findings suggest lowering readability statistics successfully simplified straightforward brochure set two likely content lent better simplification findings brochure showed simplification improved understanding content among lowliteracy highliteracy recipients without adversely affecting evaluation materials intention enroll advertised programs discuss strategies improving communication materials aim reach lowincome populations