[Asynchronous request] Update prompt and opt-out option for Pronouns pattern

[beckyphung]

What

I recommend updating the prompt and opt-out option for the Pronouns pattern based on feedback the Ask VA team received during Midpoint review (view feedback in the "Chapters 3.1, 3.2, 3.3" section in this ticket).

• Prompt: Replace the current prompt "Share this information if you'd like to help us understand the best way to address you." to "Please help us understand the best way to address you."
• Opt-out option: Update the current opt-out option ("Use my preferred name") to something like "Prefer not to answer. Use my preferred name" (similar to the option for the Gender pattern).

Purpose

• Prompt challenge: The current wording (particularly "...if you'd like to...") makes it sound like answering this question is voluntary when it's actually required.
• Opt-out option challenge: While there technically is an option to opt-out ("Use my preferred name"), it isn't clear that this is the opt-out option. Even our content reviewer for midpoint review didn't notice that the "Use my preferred name" option was meant to be an opt-out option for users who don't want to provide pronouns:

  This wording [the current prompt] makes it sound like choosing pronouns is voluntary. However, the user is then required to choose their pronouns, which goes against the “If you’d like to” prompt.

Updating both the prompt and adding a more direct opt-out option clarifies that (1) this is a required question but (2) you can opt out of providing pronouns.

Usage

The usage of this pattern wouldn't change with these two updates.

Behavior

The behavior of this pattern wouldn't change with these two updates.

Examples

We've updated the prompt, per midpoint review feedback, to be "Please help us understand the best way to address you."

I'm suggesting updating the current opt-out option to further clarify that while the question is required, the user can opt out by selecting something like "Prefer not to answer. Use my preferred name" (similar to the option for the Gender pattern).

Accessibility

My hypothesis is that "Prefer not to answer" to the opt-out option will make it clearer and plainer for folks who want to opt out of providing pronouns.

Guidance

The guidance of this pattern wouldn't change with these two updates.

Research (optional)

n/a

Code (optional)

n/a

Next steps

I would like to request an asynchronous review by the Design System Council.

[caw310]

@beckyphung Sorry I missed this experimental design DSC request. Are you available Oct 10 at 11am ET? That is our next meeting.

[beckyphung]

@caw310 No problem! Yes I can attend. Thanks for sending the Slack

[beckyphung]

I checked in with my team in this Slack thread. Ask VA is actually using the original prompt and marked the field as optional. We had originally thought the pronouns field should always be required after reading current documentation.

Here's my updated recommendation I'll present today at the DSC meeting:

When "Pronouns" is required or optional

• Prompt: Keep current prompt ~"Please help us understand the best way to address you."~ (accidentally included the wrong prompt) Share this information if you'd like to help us understand the best way to address you.
• Update opt-out option: Change "Use my preferred name" to "Prefer not to answer. Use my preferred name" (similar to the option for the Gender pattern).

Documentation

• Update documentation to clarify that teams can use the field either as optional or required.

[beckyphung]

Ask VA will make the question optional, keep the original prompt, and share a screenshot when we've launched. Since the current screenshot from the profile on VA.gov isn't actually in prod right now.

@DanielleThierryUSDSVA suggested the following change for the "Use my preferred name" option:

Don't use pronouns. Use my preferred name instead.

[caw310]

Notes from DSC: Final Decision

• Make it optional
• Becky to send screenshot so we can update guidance page.

Action Items

• Becky to send screenshot so we can update guidance page.
• Update guidance page with the new screenshot

Meeting notes