How Researchers Use Texting to Study Homeless Teens…

This is an absolutely fascinating way to use text message marketing.

I was surfing the internet the other day… just killing time.

That’s when I came across a very cool article about a professor studying homeless teens.

Professor Kimberly Tyler was struggling to get the data she needed.  So, she started thinking about the best ways to connect with homeless teens.

The solution she came up with was absolutely amazing.

Professor Tyler distributed 150 prepaid cell phones to the homeless teens… then she texted them a few times a day, asking specific questions.

The teens were able to easily respond to the 11 daily texts.

Better still, Professor Tyler got her data!

The data she gathered was critical for her study.  You see she was sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse… (Learn more about them here)

The study looked at homelessness in teens and uncovered correlations between victimization and the consumption of alcohol.

One of the graduate students working on the problem noted how difficult it was to get data on this part of the population.

“This population is often one that is difficult to reach,” said Colleen Ray.

Professor Kimberly Tyler noted, “During the follow-up interview, we found that youth enjoyed participating in the study.”

The hope is this study helps us better understand teen homelessness.  

I find it amazing researchers are using texting in these types of studies… It’s an amazing way to connect with people.  

My takeaway is simple… nonprofits and businesses can learn a big lesson from this study.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions of your group.  People are always willing to help and respond… you just need to ask.  And it shows how easy it is to use texting for asking questions and surveying users. 

You can read the original article here:  UNL professor studies homeless youth through texting

If you’re looking for ways to use texting for your nonprofit or business, please take a look at Betwext.com.  Or download our free guide…