Trilingual Data Tool for MENA Region Achieves High Usability for Violence Reporting

Why It Matters

This research demonstrates the critical role of user-centered design in developing sensitive digital tools for marginalized communities. By involving potential end-users and experts throughout the design process, even complex issues like language barriers and trust can be addressed to create effective and accessible solutions.

Key Finding

A prototype data collection tool for reporting violence against sex workers in the MENA region was found to be highly usable by its target audience, despite initial challenges with translation that were successfully resolved through the design process.

Key Findings

• The trilingual prototype achieved a high System Usability Scale score of 91.4, indicating excellent usability.
• Heuristic evaluation identified significant language-related issues, particularly with the Arabic translation, which were addressed prior to end-user testing.
• End-users expressed enthusiasm for a mobile tool that could facilitate reporting and lead to change, while also providing valuable suggestions for interface improvements.

Research Evidence

Aim: To adapt and evaluate the usability of a trilingual data collection tool for reporting violence against sex workers in the MENA region.

Method: Mixed-methods user-centered design evaluation.

Procedure: The study involved adapting an existing data collection tool (ReportVASW) for the MENA region, followed by heuristic evaluation by informatics professionals and service providers, and cognitive walkthroughs and usability testing with potential end-users.

Sample Size: 13 participants (9 potential end-users, 2 informatics professionals, 2 service providers)

Context: Development of a digital tool for reporting sensitive information in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Design Principle

User-centered design methodologies, including iterative testing and expert/end-user feedback, are paramount for developing effective and usable tools for sensitive applications.

How to Apply

When designing any digital tool intended for a specific cultural or linguistic group, conduct thorough linguistic validation and involve representatives from the target audience in usability testing from the early stages.

Limitations

The study involved a small sample size for heuristic evaluation and end-user testing, and the focus was on a specific region and type of violence.

Student Guide (IB Design Technology)

Simple Explanation: This study shows that by involving the people who will use a tool (like sex workers in the MENA region) and experts in the design process, you can create a digital tool that is easy to use and meets their needs, even for sensitive topics like reporting violence.

Why This Matters: This research highlights how user-centered design can lead to the creation of effective tools for vulnerable populations, demonstrating the importance of empathy and iterative feedback in design projects.

Critical Thinking: How might the 'enthusiasm' of end-users for the idea of the tool be influenced by factors beyond its usability, and how could this bias the evaluation?

IA-Ready Paragraph: The development of a trilingual data collection tool for reporting violence against sex workers in the MENA region, as demonstrated by Ditmore et al. (2025), underscores the critical importance of user-centered design. Their mixed-methods approach, incorporating heuristic evaluations and end-user testing, resulted in a highly usable prototype (SUS score of 91.4), even when addressing sensitive issues and linguistic diversity. This highlights the necessity of iterative feedback loops and cultural adaptation in creating effective digital solutions for specific user groups.

Project Tips

• When designing a tool for a specific community, ensure your testing includes people from that community.
• Consider the language and cultural context of your users from the very beginning of the design process.

How to Use in IA

• Reference this study when discussing the importance of user testing and adaptation for specific user groups in your design project.
• Use the findings to justify your own user research methods, especially if working with sensitive topics or diverse user bases.

Examiner Tips

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the target user group and how their needs informed the design decisions.
• Show evidence of iterative design, where feedback from testing led to specific changes in the design.

Independent Variable: ["Design of the trilingual interface","Inclusion of specific user feedback"]

Dependent Variable: ["Usability scores (System Usability Scale)","Number and severity of identified usability issues"]

Controlled Variables: ["Core functionality of the data collection tool","General domain of violence reporting"]

Strengths

• Application of multiple evaluation methods (heuristic, cognitive walkthrough, SUS).
• Involvement of both domain experts and potential end-users.
• Focus on a specific, underserved user group and context.

Critical Questions

• What are the ethical considerations when designing data collection tools for vulnerable populations?
• How can the long-term adoption and impact of such a tool be measured beyond initial usability?

Extended Essay Application

• Investigate the potential for adapting existing digital tools for specific cultural or linguistic contexts, focusing on user-centered design principles.
• Explore the ethical implications of data collection for marginalized groups and how design can mitigate risks.

Source

Designing and Evaluating a Prototype of a Trilingual Data Collection Tool for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region to Collect Data About Violence Against Sex Workers: Multiple Methods Approach in User-Centered Design · JMIR Formative Research · 2025 · 10.2196/65210