As content sensitivity reviews have evolved since we initiated this service seven years ago, our offerings around this service have evolved as well. We have three distinct types of reviews that we now offer our higher education publishing clients, each of which produce high-quality, actionable and accurate results: sensitivity reviews, authenticity reviews and enhanced reviews by subject matter experts. Each of these approaches offers unique benefits and addresses specific requirements of content evaluation, contributing to a more comprehensive and nuanced final product.
Sensitivity reviews focus on identifying and addressing potentially offensive, exclusionary, or biased content. The purpose of this type of review is to make educational materials accessible and relatable to an increasingly diverse audience by examining language, examples, and imagery that might inadvertently marginalize or alienate certain groups of students. Sensitivity reviewers are experts in the subjects that comprise the larger field known colloquially as “DEI” rather than the specific subject matter. This brings a fresh set of eyes to the subject. They are trained to spot issues related to gender, race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, disability, and geographic region. Rather than editing or censoring, their goal is to create an engaging learning environment where all students can work with the material without feeling excluded or misrepresented.
Authenticity reviews bring a different perspective to the task. These reviews are conducted by individuals with lived experience relevant to the content being evaluated. For instance, a Jewish reviewer might assess a book about terrorism in the Middle East, or a transgender person might review a story featuring a transgender protagonist written by a cisgender author. The primary objective of authenticity reviews is to verify the accuracy of cultural representations, identify inaccuracies or stereotypes that may not be apparent to outsiders, and guarantee that the content reflects genuine experiences and perspectives of the represented group. Authenticity reviewers provide invaluable insights based on their personal experiences and cultural knowledge, helping to prevent misrepresentation and cultural appropriation.
Our third type of content evaluation, Enhanced Reviews by subject matter experts, combine deep subject expertise with broader academic or professional knowledge. This is typically used when the client is concerned about a specific issue portrayed on the text. For example, a PhD in Political Science reviewing content about terrorism in the Middle East would bring a wealth of knowledge to the task. These reviewers assess the academic rigor and accuracy of the content, evaluate the broader historical, social, and political context, and identify any oversimplifications or misrepresentations of complex issues. They also help maintain consistency with current scholarly understanding of the subject. Enhanced reviews bring both depth and breadth of knowledge to the review process, often combining academic expertise with industry experience.
While these three types of reviews serve different primary purposes, they complement each other in creating comprehensive, accurate, and inclusive educational materials. Sensitivity reviews cast a wide net, addressing issues of bias and exclusion across various topics and disciplines. Authenticity reviews dive deep into specific cultural, identity, or experiential representations, providing a level of nuance that might be missed by general sensitivity reviews. Enhanced reviews by subject matter experts offer a rigorous academic perspective, placing the content within its broader intellectual context and maintaining high standards of accuracy and comprehensiveness.
The qualifications for each type of reviewer also differ significantly. Sensitivity reviewers undergo specialized training in identifying bias and exclusionary content, developing a keen eye for subtle forms of discrimination or marginalization. Authenticity reviewers, by definition, must have personal experience with the represented culture or identity, bringing their lived experiences to bear on the content. Enhanced reviewers typically hold advanced academic degrees and possess extensive professional experience in their field, allowing them to provide authoritative assessments of complex subject matter.
Integrating these three approaches to content review, publishers and educational institutions can create materials that are accurate and comprehensive as well as inclusive, culturally sensitive and authentic. This multi-faceted approach to content evaluation helps bridge gaps in understanding, promotes empathy and cultural competence and ultimately enhances the learning experience for all students – which is, after all, the ultimate goal. As our publishing clients embrace sensitivity, authenticity, and enhanced expertise in content evaluation, we can create educational materials that truly reflect the diversity of the human experience and knowledge, preparing students for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
