Writing Effectively at The World Health Organization

Reader analysis

When you analyse your readers, you are focusing on barriers that might prevent them from accepting the main message of your document. The easiest way to do this is to answer a series of questions about your readers.

Begin by thinking about how much your readers know about the situation you are writing about, and how much more they need to know to make the decision you want them to make. This question will help you determine the scope of your document.

Then, think about barriers that interfere with your purpose.

Are you aware of any practical barriers? (Perhaps you are proposing a new project in a time of budget cuts, or asking someone to do something that will be difficult for them to achieve.)

Are you aware of any perceptual barriers? (Is your reader likely to have an understanding of the situation you are writing about that you feel is inaccurate?)

Are there any emotional barriers? (Are you pointing out errors made in a project someone has completed, or indicating weaknesses in a department’s performance? The reader may have a strong emotional reaction. )

Thinking about barriers means identifying reasons your readers may not act on your message as you hope they will. Analysing these barriers and planning ways to overcome them will help you achieve your purpose.

© WHO 2011