SUPPORT
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
How does Busara provide capacity strengthening support?
We use a combination of classroom-style training, tailored technical support, mentorship and co-design to build practitioners’ knowledge and practical skills. This support helps CSOs apply research and behavioral science to design, test and improve interventions that respond to their target audiences and context. Through co-design, we work alongside partners to build ownership and strengthen their ability to apply these skills and approaches beyond the period of our direct support.
What is Low Cost Message Testing (LCMT)?
Low-Cost Message Testing (LCMT) is a practical approach to developing and testing behaviour change and advocacy communications before scaling. It helps practitioners gather feedback on how their intended audiences understand, perceive and respond to messages, and use these insights to improve their communications.
Busara provides two complementary resources to support this process: The LCMT Guidebook provides a step-by-step process and practical, low-cost qualitative and quantitative approaches for testing messages with intended audiences. It guides practitioners on what to test, how to test, and how to use findings to improve their messages. The Live Message Testing Platform is an AI-powered tool that supports practitioners to develop and refine behaviourally informed messages. Practitioners provide information about the behavioural problem, communication goal and target audience, and receive recommendations on how their messages can be strengthened using behavioural science.
Together, these resources support practitioners to develop, test, iterate, and further test and scale effective communications.
What is message testing, and why is it important for CSOs?
Message testing helps practitioners CSOs evaluate the effectiveness of their communication strategies. This ensures that the behavior change communication interventions resonate with the target audience and drive your desired outcomes.
How can I get started with message testing?
You can learn more about testing, the different components of your message that can be tested, and the qualitative and quantitative testing methods using the Low-Cost Message Testing Guide and you can visit our AI platform for other resources on communication testing.
How different is Low-Cost Message Testing Toolkit from the other forms of message testing resources available online?
Which methods are used in low-cost message testing?
The guide outlines quantitative methods like surveys and A/B Testing as well as Qualitative methods like In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) and Focus Group Discussions. It also uses an AI platform to test and provide instant feedback on how to strengthen communication messages
What is Busara’s role in message testing?
Busara has developed and scaled free behavioral science and behavior change communication tools such as the LCMT guidebook and AI powered behavior change testing platform. Busara is also a technical advisor to organizations that wish to understand how to curate the guide to fit their learning needs and enhance advocacy communication. Finally, Busara facilitates capacity-strengthening initiatives and free learning sessions on behavioral science and evidence-based advocacy to support practitioners in the civic space to strengthen technical skills in behavioral research and evidence-based advocacy.
Is message testing only for large organizations, or can smaller CSOs benefit from it too?
Message testing benefits organizations of all sizes. Testing ensures limited resources are used efficiently and helps small organizations compete effectively in social and behavior change strategies.
Are there any costs associated with using the guidebook and other resources on the website?
No, the resources are available as open access; anyone can use them. Our goal is to help organizations communicate effectively with their intended audience.
How can I access the message testing guidebook and AI platform?
You can access the guidebook and AI platform directly on the website. You can download the guidebook here in PDF format for your convenience.
How can I contact the Busara Center for additional support or questions?
What is online message testing?
The online message testing platform is an AI-powered tool that helps practitioners develop and test communication messages.
What can I use the online testing platform for?
You can use the online testing platform to develop initial ideas for behaviorally informed messages, identify opportunities to strengthen a message, and get rapid feedback before investing in further testing or scaling a communication campaign.
How does the online message testing platform work?
You provide information about the behavior you want to change/influence, your target audience and the message you want to test. The platform uses this information, along with behavioral science concepts and Busara’s message-testing resources, to assess the message and provide recommendations for improvement. You can then refine your message and consider further testing before using it in a real-world campaign.
Does the online platform test my messages with real people?
No. The online testing platform provides an initial assessment of your message using the information you provide about your communication goal, behavioral problem, target audience, and other key campaign details, and offers feedback and recommendations to strengthen the message. Therefore, it should not be treated as a replacement for testing with your intended audience in a real-world setting.
What AI model does the platform use?
The platform uses a quantized Llama 3.3 model, a Casper distilled vision version with roughly 70B parameters. The model uses RAG to ingest knowledge sources such as documents.
Where does the information used by an online platform come from?
The platform draws information from behavioral science concepts and Busara’s tools and resources developed for behavior change communication like the Low Cost Message Testing Guide; information gathered from our partners from their previous communication campaigns; and the information you provide about your communication goal, behavioral problem, target audience and messages developed in the platform by previous users.
Will my message be used to train the AI?
Yes. (What more information can we include here or Yes is enough), You however have the option to explicitly restrict/opt out of this. Messages used to train the model are also anonymised before training the model.
How is my message protected after I submit it on the online platform?
Yes, only you can be able to access the message. Login to the platform uses two factor authentication to ensure only you access your message.
Does a positive result from the platform mean my message will work in the real world?
No. The platform provides an initial assessment and should not be treated as evidence that a message will definitely change behavior. Messages should undergo further testing with the intended audience before scaling.