Evaluating the Use of an Audience Response Technology System to Collect Research Data among African American Elders

Older African Americans are at greater risk of dying from cancer compared to other groups. More research is needed to understand and eliminate these disparities. However, survey data is usually collected using an individual pen / paper approach and surveys are often read to participants individually. This study compared the amount of missing data, time needed to complete the survey, and experiences of using an Audience Response Technology System (n = 50) and those completing surveys using a pen / paper method (n = 30) among an African American population. Findings suggest that it is possible to collect data from larger numbers of people in a shorter amount of time using the ARTS, to eliminate data entry errors by direct transfer of electronic data to the data base, and to engage older African Americans to use computer technology. A major problem identified was the increased amount of missing data among participants using the ARTS compared to the traditional pen / paper group. Strategies such as smaller group sizes and more sample questions may decrease the amount of missing data. More research is needed to support the benefits of this innovative use of this technology to collect survey data among older African Americans.