title: Text messaging as a community-based survey tool: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is not known whether using text messaging to administer real-time survey questions is feasible and acceptable among low-income, urban African American adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a mixed methods approach including paper surveys, surveys administered by text message, and a focus group. Survey questions that included multiple choice, Likert-like scales, and open ended questions were administered by paper and sent via text message daily during varied times of day for six weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our study sample (n = 20), 90% of participants were female, and 100% were African American, with a median age of 30.7 years. Participants responded to 72% (1092/1512) of all multiple choice questions sent by text message and 76% (55/72) of the questions requiring responses on Likert-like scales. Content of responses on the paper and text message surveys did not differ. All participants reported in the focus group that they preferred text message surveys over other survey modalities they have used in the past (paper, phone, internet, in-person) due to ease and convenience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Text messaging is not only acceptable and feasible but is the preferred method of collecting real-time survey data in a low-income urban African-American community.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, 1018 Fuller Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-1213, USA. tachang@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Tammy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Weyinshet
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gossa
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kohatsu
authors.forename: Enesha M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Cobb
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heisler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D001290:Attitude; D040421:Cell Phone; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D060145:Text Messaging; D055815:Young Adult