skip-start

SKIP-StartFindings from a pilot

program using texting to encourage daily skipping

Huyen TranStanford University

April 2011

Pilot: Use SMS texting to prompt Stanford undergrads to skip once a day

Skipping: • easy to do • fun, carefree + physical• difficult to design effective text

message to elicit skipping action

Exciting: Enthusiastic immediate participation on Day 1. Participants felt it was fun, energizing, liberating, silly.

The Findings

*skipping animation courtesy of http://www.newgrounds.com/bbs/topic/1106525

Setup: Sent a short e-mail with link to google form to friends. 7/15 signed up. 6/7 participated.

Frustrating: Participation quickly dwindled by Days 2 + 3. Probably due to timing and text content.

Surprising: Participants felt embarrassed + wished they had a friend to skip with. Social skipping might be worth looking into :)

Next Step: Improve trigger esp. timing. Try using post-it notes or images.

Questions? or want to skip?e-mail: huyen@stanford.edutwitter: @thehuyentran