#safesigns
The game rooted in IPV research
#safesigns
The game rooted in IPV research
11.3% of young women* using #safesigns reported lower exposure to Intimate Partner Violence
*self-reported as experiencing partner violence in past month
#safesigns is an open-source toolkit delivering a WhatsApp chatbot experience with the aim of supporting young women in navigating intimate relationships. The target user audience for #safesigns is young women aged 18 to 24 years old and is designed as a safe, private space where girls can be comfortable learning about intimate relationships.
Using a gamified and a narrative approach, #safesigns offers simple, symbolic rewards to guide and motivate users throughout their interactions when using the gamified chatbot and a Choose-your-own-adventure design delivered through voice notes, recorded by local actors when using the narrative chatbot. When asked a question, the user can indicate their chosen response using buttons where the interactive journey adapts depending on responses provided by the user.
The Narrative and Gamified chatbots increased participants’ ability to identify unhealthy relationship behaviours compared to an information-only control chatbot, the Gamified chatbot being the most effective followed by the Narrative chatbot.
The treatment effect on power equity beliefs is significantly greater for users with a low baseline attitudes score; the Gamified and Narrative being the most effective.
The Gamified and Narrative arms had over twice as high user retention rates (56% and 60% respectively) over the course of the intervention, relative to the information-only arm (24%).
Both chatbots improved beliefs in power equity in relationships compared to receiving no intervention (“pure control”). The effect sizes for the Narrative and Gamified chatbots were 0.20 and 0.29 (Cohen’s D, 2.s.f.) respectively.
While these effect sizes are modest, they are substantial in terms of real-world significance given the potential scale at which chatbots can be delivered.
Engaging characters
Gamified skills practice
Badges for module completions
Interactive feedback throughout the experience
Choose-your-own-adventure design delivered through voice notes, recorded by local actors
Narrative arch (keeping you hooked) & characterisation
Perspective giving