NWFA Home pageRESEARCH REPORT (May 2000)
1. SUMMARY
The North West Film Archive (NWFA) is committed to building on
the success of the ground-breaking 'Can I
Hear That In Colour?' project. With a strong understanding of
user requirements and how these can be supported by technological
capabilities, the NWFA has developed the next phase of this
pioneering and rewarding work.
A further six month period of action research has been carried out, funded by the Arts Council of England's New Audiences - Regional Challenge programme. Sony Professional & Broadcast (UK) have also generously loaned specialist technical equipment to support the project.
This second phase engaged with wider audiences of people with visual and/or hearing impairments, to test and refine ways of accessing the collection, meeting their needs and preferences effectively. Evidence gathered has provided real proof of the demand for future access services which would open up the collection for as many local people as possible.
These services include a free library of videos for home use containing captions or audio description, the provision of screenings at the Archive with live sign language interpretation and a website and on-line film catalogue specially adapted for visually impaired users.
In sharing the Archive's ambition of accessibility for all, the views and experiences of North West people have not only guided and supported our research, but have lent powerful direction to the Archive's access remit. We thank all of the individuals and organisations involved for this opportunity to offer choice and equality for everyone wishing to engage with their region's filmed heritage.
2. RESEARCH AIMS
The NWFA undertook action research to:
• find new audiences of disabled people in the North West
• test and refine ways in which audiences could access the
collection effectively
• identify disabled people's preferences for searching, and
receiving information about, the collection
• help shape the design and delivery of future inclusive access
services
3. METHODOLOGY
i) Finding new audiences
In order to begin forming a picture of regional needs, a database
was established (with assistance from Full Circle Arts, disability
arts consultants) of local, regional and UK disability organisations
ranging from national charities for visually and hearing impaired
people through to North West disability networks and localised
special interest societies and groups. Research was carried out to
identify North West based sign language interpreters and other
professional support services which could also be added to the
database.
ii) Engaging the research user group
Due to the success of the 'Can I Hear That In Colour?' project,
finding volunteers to be part of the next research phase was not a
problem. Of the user group of thirteen people, five had already
contributed to the previous research and were keen to lend their
expertise a second time. It was important that the age, gender,
ethnic origin and types of impairment reflected within the group
would combine to give the project as full a range of experience and
representation as possible. Drawing from the database, and the
contacts made in establishing it, more user group members were
found.
iii) Establishing a frame of reference
As preliminary research, it was important to establish a frame of
reference relating to people's experiences of moving images both at
home and in external settings. A structured questionnaire was
designed which would gather information about how often people
watched television, used videos, visited the cinema and attended
other screenings - it would also draw out qualitative data about
these experiences. User group members attended an introductory
session at the Archive where the aims of the research project were
explained and project staff completed the questionnaire with them.
Observations made were then analysed to build up a picture of how
people had engaged with moving images.
iv) Design and undertaking of primary research
Led by the user group's responses, it was clear that the aims of the
primary research would be best achieved by splitting the group along
impairment-specific lines. The prelimiary research had revealed
significant differences in people's experiences linked to their
impairment (see Research Findings). Two distinct groups were
formed, one visually impaired and one hearing impaired, with each
group testing and evaluating screening scenarios they could best
relate to from their own experiences.
The visually impaired group would test levels of satisfaction with four audio described NWFA film extracts compiled onto a videotape they could use at home. An evaluation form in large print was issued with the videotape or completed by telephone as necessary.
The hearing impaired group would test levels of satisfaction with coming to the Archive for a group screening of four captioned NWFA film extracts. An evaluation form was completed after the screening.
In both cases above, material had been selected by NWFA staff but it was essential also to recognise individual's rights to explore the collection for films reflecting their own areas of interest. Evaluation forms incorporated questions about people's preferences for searching the collection and the formats in which they wished to receive information. Following the group screening, hearing impaired members were invited to test the NWFA's on-line film catalogue and observational research techniques were employed to track their responses.
v) Findings and recommendations
Quantitative and qualitative analysis was carried out, leading to
recommendations which would help the Archive to design and deliver
meaningful access services for future audiences. Another session at
the Archive was arranged at which the findings would be presented to
the whole user group. This was intended to give everybody the
opportunity to reflect on the outcomes, offer additional comments and
learn about the responses of their fellow members in the other
group.
4. RESEARCH FINDINGS
i) Findings of preliminary research
a) Experiences of visually impaired group
members in relation to everyday and social access to moving
images:
• overwhelming preference for enjoying moving images at home
• going out to the cinema was not considered an accessible
option
• very frequent use of television and video
• considerable interest in accessing NWFA collection
b) Experiences of hearing impaired group
members in relation to everyday and social access to moving
images:
• moving images accessed in choice of many different
settings including group, social screenings
• cinema fairly accessible but improvements needed for greater
accessibility
• frequent use of television and video at home
• considerable interest in accessing NWFA collection
ii) Findings of primary research
a) Visually impaired people
- levels of satisfaction with audio described films on video for
home use:
• having video at home enables visually impaired people to
have control which they would not otherwise have in an
external environment
• the ability to pause, stop, review the tape without assistance
from others gives true independence and equality
• if viewing with family and friends, questions about the
content can be freely asked without fear of 'spoiling' the experience
for others
• previous negative experiences at the cinema had served to
exclude and alienate visually impaired people
• despite this the idea of coming to the Archive for screenings
was attractive as trust had been built up
- preferences for searching the collection and receiving information about films of personal interest:
• high levels of computer usage meant that half of the group
said they would carry out their own searches of the NWFA's on-line
film catalogue
• the overall preference was for NWFA staff to carry out
searches based on specific topics suggested by users
• search results and further film information provided in large
print or on audio tape scored highest
b) Hearing impaired people
- levels of satisfaction with captioned films shown at the Archive
as a group screening (with signer present):
• being able to participate in discussion about
films enhances the screening experience
• each individual must be able to contribute to
discussion if they want to
• the timing of such discussions is important so that
access to the screened material is optimised
• appropriate interpretation services must be
provided
• verbal, signed introductions to films given in advance
of their screening enable people to set the film in its context,
leaving more time to access the film itself
• captions provided access to the films for everybody
• whilst a signer may not be required to interpret during
the films, it is essential that they facilitate communication from
the beginning to the end of the screening event
• hearing impaired people were keen to enjoy the collection at
home with family and friends
- preferences for searching the collection and receiving information about films of personal interest:
• high levels of computer usage meant that the majority of
the group said they would carry out their own searches of the NWFA's
on-line film catalogue
• clear preference was for search results and further film
information to be received by e-mail
6. IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE SERVICES
The NWFA is committed to developing equal access opportunities and service choice for all North West people. The provision of access services designed to meet the needs and preferences of people with a visual and/or hearing impairment will therefore be a priority within our wider access remit. In order to achieve this effectively, the Archive will seek the necessary funding to resource the following work.
Services for people with a visual impairment:
• Open up NWFA collection to wider audiences by producing audio described highlights of NWFA films on video for free loan or viewing.
• Create a library of audio described films of individual choice for free loan or viewing.
• Produce information and publicity enabling new audiences to make informed choices about accessing the NWFA collection.
• Engage a consultant to make adaptions to NWFA website and on-line catalogue for users who have a visual impairment.
Services for people with a hearing impairment:
• Add captions to NWFA films of individual choice and make them available for free loan or viewing.
• Create a library of captioned films for free loan or viewing.
• Compile highlights from NWFA collection with captions on video for free loan or viewing.
• Make compilation of highlights with signer in vision for free loan or viewing.
• Produce information and publicity enabling new audiences to make informed choices about accessing the NWFA collection.
7. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Project Funder
Arts Council of England New Audiences - Regional Challenge
programme via North West Arts Board
Specialist audio-visual equipment
Sony Professional & Broadcast (UK)
User Group
Joseph Cash, Brenda Crooks, Steven Ebbrell, Frank Essary, Leon
Gordon, Dawn Hartgen, Paul Mittler, Bert Pearson, Bill Prescot, Geoff
Riley, Leigh Stirling, Cyn Stringer, Frances Wharton.
Professional Support Services
Phil Samphire (Full Circle Arts)
Anthony Redshaw, Karen Smith, Irene Dixon, Pauline Ridgeway, Clare
Cotton (Sign Language Interpretation)
Ann Hornsby (Audio description)
___________________________________________________________________________
The North West Film Archive is interested to hear about any similar projects relating to moving images and people with sensory impairments - go to Contacts and Staff for details of how to get in touch or email n.w.filmarchive@mmu.ac.uk.
The North West Film Archive is a part of the Library Service
of the Manchester Metropolitan University.
This document is maintained by Marion
Hewitt (L.Ridehalgh@mmu.ac.uk)
Last modified 22 July 2002
© Copyright Manchester Metropolitan University.