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Mobile Technology and Survey Research:
Lessons from Early Implementations and the
Consumer Marketplace
Michael Keating
RTI International
RTI International
How fast is smartphone growth?
It’s fast. Really fast.
Image: Neilson (2012). http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/smartphones-account-for-
half-of-all-mobile-phones-dominate-new-phone-purchases-in-the-us/
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With Change Comes Opportunity
Smartphones are
personal.
Many users have the
devices with them at all
times.
There is opportunity for
researchers to leverage
these mobile
technologies to
enhance our research. Image: Newspaper.li (2012).
http://newspaper.li/static/eb1c6b7ee11740633e86ccdabf63ac
4f.jpg
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Samsung Galaxy Nexus
4.65 inch HD screen
5 megapixel camera
Global positioning
systems
Accelerometer
Bluetooth
Access to fast data
connections
What technology is in a smartphone?
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Questionnaire Administration
Self-administration
survey successes!
High response rates.
Promising usability.
New possibilities for
possible data reliability
problems.
Deployment has
consequences.
Be mindful of screen
sizes...
Image: ZDNet. http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/60-
of-americans-would-give-up-alcohol-for-their-
mobile-phones/20569
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Screen Size Matters
View from a desktop computer.
View from a smartphone.
You don’t want this to
happen!
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Respondent Journals
Smartphones are ideal
for respondent journals.
An increasing number of
studies are utilizing
smartphones for
respondent data entry.
Consumer marketplace
is littered with journal
applications.
Researchers can take
cues from these apps.
Image: Microsoft. http://catalog.zune.net/v3.2/en-
US/image/53bd5329-2c84-41e4-9c29-
2c844994888f?width=1280&height=720&resize
=true
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Global Positioning Systems
You’ll never get lost again!
Image: http://www.funnyphotos.net.au/images/multiple-gps-in-the-one-car1.jpg
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Accelerometers
What is an
accelerometer?
– Senses changes in
direction.
– Senses changes in
velocity.
These sensors are very
useful for studies that
collect data on physical
activity.
Image: http://iphonedevelopmentbits.com/wp-
content/uploads/2010/06/device_axes.png
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Bluetooth
Image: http://mobihealthnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Nike-Fuel-
Band_BonjourLife.com1.jpg
Nike+ FuelBand
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Unanswered Questions
Human subjects
literature is still a work in
progress.
The privacy implications
of personal data
collection.
Data security is a
concern.
Image: http://info.synnex.com/pcw/blog/pcw/question.jpg
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Samsung Galaxy Nexus
4.65 inch HD screen
5 megapixel camera
Global positioning
systems
Accelerometer
Bluetooth
Access to fast data
connections
Flexible Research Devices
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Contact Information
Michael D. Keating
Survey Manager
919.541.7166
