Studies of the Efficiency of Drug Labelling

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Published: 1967-07-01

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M. Hailstone
J. J. Foster

Abstract

Two experiments on the effectiveness of drug-labelling are reported. The first compared typewritten with hand-written labels, and the second compared printed drug-labels varying in type size, form of type, and layout (centered or ranged left). A discrimination-test procedure was employed, the subjects having to select specified labels from a display. T he results of the experiments showed (I) that typewritten labels were discriminated more readily than handwritten ones, (2) that labels printed with 10-point type were discriminated more speedily than labels printed with 6-point type, (3) that for labels printed with 6-point type, upper-case letterform was more easily d iscriminated than lower-case le tterform, (4) the layout of the label design had no effect on discrimination.

Article Details

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 3 (1967): Volume 1.3

Section

Research Article

Author Biographies

M. Hailstone

Maxwell J. Hailstone has his own free-lance practice (166 Manchester Road, Manchester 16, England) and is assistant lecturer in typographic design at Liverpool College of Art. A graduate of both Leicester College of Art and London College of Printing, he has just completed two years as research fellow in the School of Advanced Studies of Manchester College of Art and Design carrying out a program of research into the efficiency of pharmaceutical labelling.

J. J. Foster

Jeremy J. Foster is research associate in the Psychology Department, University of Newcastle-on-Tyne, England. A graduate in psychology from Manchester University, he spent two years as research fellow in the School of Advanced Studies of Manchester College of Art and Design carrying out a program of research into the legibility of print.

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