The Use of Text Message Reminders to Increase Completion of Web-Based Surveys: Results of Two Randomized Control Trials

Abstract

Limited research examines the use of text messaging to improve survey response rates. Drawing on Tailored Panel Management, the Florida Study of Professionals for Safe Families utilized text messages as reminders to complete unfinished web-based surveys, examining if completion varies by (a) message content, and (b) initial level of survey engagement. Overall, message content did not impact completion. However, participants who completed more than half of their survey at the time of a reminder text were more likely to complete their survey than those who had completed less than 50%. We suggest strategies to promote survey completion through text messaging.

Keywords:

• Text message
• response rate
• technology
• research methods

Funding

This work was supported by the Florida Institute for Child Welfare (Project # 037181).