Access Test Guide

Confirming whether your chosen people are observable, reachable, and willing to engage

This guide should be used with the methods outlined in Chapter 5  Test Your Access.


Purpose

Before you invest in conversations or observations, confirm that you can reliably reach your chosen people. Access testing answers a simple but essential question: Can we actually engage them, repeatedly and meaningfully?

A passed access test = you know where your people are, you can reach them directly, and they are willing to engage.


1. Define Your Group

  • Chosen people/community: ___
  • Why this group matters: ___
  • Typical settings or gathering places: ___

2. Minimum Access Conditions

Check each box only if evidence supports it (not just assumptions):


3. Test Design

  • Channels to test: ___
  • Sample size goal: ___
  • Method (DM, intercept, post, visit, etc.): ___
  • Timeline: ___

4. Execution Notes

  • What did you actually do? ___
  • How many people did you attempt to reach? ___
  • How many responded positively? ___
  • Quality of responses (surface vs. depth): ___
  • Any barriers or surprises? ___

5. Results & Signal Strength

  • Strong access (green light): People responded quickly, openly, and repeatedly.
  • Weak access (yellow light): Responses limited, shallow, or hard to replicate.
  • Blocked access (red light): Could not reliably find, reach, or engage.

Your assessment: ___


6. Knowledge Update

  • What do you now know about access to this group? ___
  • What assumptions did you validate or overturn? ___
  • Did you learn anything about subgroups, gatekeepers, or hidden barriers? ___

7. Next Steps

  • If green: Plan your first exploratory conversations/observations.
  • If yellow: Refine channels, messaging, or sampling strategy.
  • If red: Loop back to convergence; reconsider your chosen people.

Attachments (Data Room pointers):
- Screenshot of messages/posts sent
- Short intercept script (if used)
- Record of replies or field notes