Hunger Scale for Research Study, 2024.

In 2024, I was approached by Dr. Eleanor Shonkoff, who sought assistance in developing a bilingual (English and Español) checklist for a community-based research study on pediatric nutrition. Dr. Shonkoff’s research examines the links between parent factors (e.g., feeding practices, stress), child dietary intake, and child obesity risk, particularly within underserved populations facing food insecurity. 

As part of that checklist, we developed a 1-10 linear-annotated graphic scale to represent hunger. The resultant scale uses five iconographic faces paired with ten short descriptive definitions. Our approach to this scale was partially inspired and informed by the well-known and widely adopted Wong–Baker[1] Faces Pain Rating Scale.

Credits—

  • Principal Investigator: Dr. Eleanor Shonkoff, Associate Clinical Professor, Nutrition and Public Health, Merrimack College
  • Graphic Design Intern: Josh McCarthy
  • Communication Design Research Consultant: Dan Vlahos

[1] The Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale was created by Donna Wong and Connie Baker in 1983 to help children effectively communicate about their pain. Once practitioners clearly understood the child’s pain, they could develop a quality treatment and support plan. More at: https://wongbakerfaces.org/us/wong-baker-faces-history/

FILED IN: Design Research


IMAGES
Hunger Scale (English)