Web Survey Bibliography
Title Short and Sweet? Length and Informative Content of Open-Ended Responses Using SMS as a Research Mode
Author Walsh, E.; Brinker, J. K.
Source Journal of Computer Mediated Communication (JCMC), 21, 1, pp. 87-100
Year 2016
Database Willey InterScience
Access date 11.04.2016
Abstract Short Message Service (SMS) is one of the most widely used data services worldwide. This paper examines the assumption that the 160-character limit would force brief and thus comparatively uninformative responses in psychological research compared to other data collection modes. In laboratory classes, 463 psychology undergraduate students were randomly assigned to complete a 2-item questionnaire by SMS, e-mail, online survey, or paper survey. 2 weeks later, participants completed a multiple-choice self-report risk taking questionnaire on paper. While SMS response lengths were statistically significantly shorter than those yielded in other modes, they did not contain less information.
Access/Direct link Wiley Online Library (Abstract) / (Full text)
Year of publication2016
Bibliographic typeJournal article