Read the passage and answer the questions:
A non-profit organisation wanted to promote and teach people of a village about the benefits of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS). They made colorful posters with graphics and pasted them near the Panchayat and Health Centre of the village. However, despite the posters displayed at multiple points in the entire village, they were unable to communicate or bring positive change in the attitude of the villagers. They changed their strategy and started using radio to educate the villagers. When one of the volunteers started to interact face-to-face with the villagers, she was surprised to see that most of the villagers were unaware of the benefits of ORS despite the efforts of the organisation. During the interaction, she found that disseminating information regarding ORS by meeting in person was more persuading. She reported this to her seniors and requested to change in the strategy to bring positive changes in the attitude of the villagers regarding the uses of ORS.
What change can be brought in the strategy of the organisation to bring a positive change among the villagers?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Mode of spreading the message
Option (1) Language of spreading the message — Incorrect. Nothing in the case shows that the villagers did not understand the language of the posters or the radio. The volunteer found they were unaware of the benefits because the message never reached them in a persuading way.
Option (2) Mode of spreading the message — Correct. The mode of spreading the message plays a significant role in attitude change. The volunteer found that meeting people in person worked better than posters and radio, so the organisation should change how it spreads the message: from indirect transmission to face-to-face interaction.
Option (3) Making better posters — Incorrect. The posters were already colourful, with graphics, and displayed at many points. Better posters are still indirect transmission, the mode that failed.
Option (4) Increasing number of posters — Incorrect. Posters at multiple points across the village brought no change; more of the same mode would not help.
NCERT (2025-26): “Message characteristics : … Finally, the mode of spreading the message plays a significant role. Face-to-face transmission of the message is usually more effective than indirect transmission, as for instance, through letters and pamphlets, or even through mass media. For example, a positive attitude towards Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) for young children is more effectively created if community social workers and doctors spread the message by talking to people directly, than by only describing the benefits of ORS on the radio (see Figure 6.3). These days transmission through visual media such as television and the Internet are similar to face-to-face interaction, but not a substitute for the latter.” |