The Change Making Media Lab has participated in an NIH grant to compare the effectiveness of dramatic narrative vs fact based informational documentary in motivating behavior. CMML made two movies – Tamale Lesson and Its Time – both having the same facts, and the social scientists then took the videos and compared them for relating information and motivating behavior. The first research published showed that the drama was equal to the informational in the viewer’s learning facts and was statistically more effective in motivating behavior change. This research makes a significant change in the way narratives and dramas can be used by health organizations. The movies received the Multi Media Award from American Public Health Association. The research conclusions are included in the section on Entertainment-Education.
