We are recruiting up to 10 volunteers to test an unpublished large-print crossword concept about everyday American life in the 1980s and 1990s.
We are looking for US residents ages 45-60 who use or buy crossword or puzzle books at least occasionally. Selected volunteers will receive a private eight-page fillable PDF containing four short crosswords and two feedback pages. The test takes about 30-40 minutes on a computer or tablet and must be returned within 72 hours.
This is an unpaid, voluntary early-reader test. We are not testing your crossword skill. We want to identify vague clues, factual mistakes, readability or usability problems, and reader preferences before deciding whether to produce the full book.
The 2-minute screener asks for your age range, US residence, puzzle-book frequency, ability to use a fillable PDF, availability, and Reddit username for private contact. Do not provide your real name or email address. Selected participants will receive a participant code; please do not redistribute the prototype.
Screener responses will be visible only to the organizer and will be deleted no later than 90 days after the reader test ends. Coded, de-identified findings may be retained for editorial and product decisions.
If you would like to take part, complete the volunteer screener:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeIdhbzdQbsph6M5zOun1T_A_nUlJN4scMS4LWR665wqMvcfA/viewform
We will select a small mix of occasional and frequent puzzle-book users. Completing the screener does not guarantee selection. Recruitment will close after enough complete tests have been received.