Technology Use among Emerging Adult Homeless in Two U.S. Cities

Pollio, David E.; Batey, D. Scott; Bender, Kimberly; Ferguson, Kristin M.; Thompson, Sanna J.

doi:10.1093/sw/swt006

Cited by 38 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The former are more likely to use Facebook (49% versus 37%), whereas the latter use In stagram or Twitter most often ( Lenhart et al, 2015). Homeless young people also have significant access to technology (including the Internet) ( Bender et al, 2014); one recent study of one hundred 18-to 24-year-olds in the United States indicated that nearly half (46%) access it daily and most (93%) access it weekly ( Pollio, Batey, Bender, Ferguson, & Thompson, 2013).…”

Section: Internet and Technology Use By Marginalized Youth Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pitfalls, Potentials, and Ethics of Online Survey Research: LGBTQ and Other Marginalized and Hard-to-Access Youths

McInroy

2016

Social Work Research

119

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Online research methodologies may serve as an important mechanism for population-focused data collection in social work research. Online surveys have become increasingly prevalent in research inquiries with young people and have been acknowledged for their potential in investigating understudied and marginalized populations and subpopulations, permitting increased access to communities that tend to be less visible-and thus often less studied-in offline contexts. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) young people are a socially stigmatized, yet digitally active, youth population whose participation in online surveys has been previously addressed in the literature. Many of the opportunities and challenges of online survey research identified with LGBTQ youths may be highly relevant to other populations of marginalized and hard-to-access young people, who are likely present in significant numbers in the online environment (for example, ethnoracialized youths and low-income youths). In this article, the utility of online survey methods with marginalized young people is discussed, and recommendations for social work research are provided.

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Section: Internet and Technology Use By Marginalized Youth Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This may provide important information for sampling and recruitment. For example, the majority of homeless youths access the Internet on a weekly basis, which indicates online surveys may be an appropriate method of data collection from this population ( Bender et al, 2014;Pollio et al, 2013).…”

Section: Key Considerations For Online Surveys Recruitmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pitfalls, Potentials, and Ethics of Online Survey Research: LGBTQ and Other Marginalized and Hard-to-Access Youths

McInroy

2016

Social Work Research

119

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“…Homeless populations have substantial access to information technologies, including mobile devices and computers [15,[24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. In adult homeless populations, mobile phone ownership ranges from 44 to 62%, recent computer use is reported to be 47%, and Internet use ranges from 19 to 84% [27].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Feasible is Multiple Time Point Web-Based Data Collection with Individuals Experiencing Street Homelessness?

Eyrich‐Garg

Moss

2017

J Urban Health

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Three barriers investigators often encounter when conducting longitudinal work with homeless or other marginalized populations are difficulty tracking participants, high rates of no-shows for follow-up interviews, and high rates of loss to follow-up. Recent research has shown that homeless populations have substantial access to information technologies, including mobile devices and computers. These technologies have the potential both to make longitudinal data collection with homeless populations easier and to minimize some of these methodological challenges. This pilot study's purpose was to test whether individuals who were homeless and sleeping on the streets-the Bstreet homeless^-would answer questions remotely through a web-based data collection system at regular Bfollowup^intervals. We attempted to simulate longitudinal data collection in a condensed time period. Participants (N = 21) completed an in-person baseline interview. Each participant was given a remotely reloadable gift card. Subsequently, weekly for 8 weeks, participants were sent an email with a link to a SurveyMonkey questionnaire. Participants were given 48 h to complete each questionnaire. Data were collected about life on the streets, service use, community inclusion, substance use, and high-risk sexual behaviors. Ten dollars was remotely loaded onto each participant's gift card when they completed the questionnaire within the completion window. A substantial number of participants (67% of the total sample and 86% of the adjusted sample) completed at least seven out of the eight follow-up questionnaires. Most questionnaires were completed at public libraries, but several were completed at other types of locations (social service agencies, places of employment, relative/friend/acquaintance's domiciles, or via mobile phone). Although some of the questions were quite sensitive, very few participants skipped any questions. The only variables associated with questionnaire completion were frequency of computer use and education-both positive associations. This pilot study suggests that collecting longitudinal data online may be feasible with a subpopulation of persons experiencing homelessness. We suspect that participant follow-up rates using web-based data collection methods have the potential to exceed follow-up rates using traditional in-person interviews. If this population of persons experiencing street homelessness can be successful with this method of data collection, perhaps other disenfranchised, difficult-to-track, or difficult-to-reach populations could be followed using web-based data collection methods. Local governments are striving to decrease the Bdigital divide,^providing free or greatly discounted wi-fi connectivity as well as mobile computer lab access to low-income geographic areas. These actions, in combination with increased smart phone ownership, may permit vulnerable populations to connect and communicate with investigators.

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“…As many as 62% of homeless youth own a cell phone, which they report using at least once per day (Rice, Lee, & Taitt, 2011). Homeless youth access social networking sites similarly to same-aged domiciled college students (Guadagno et al, 2012), with as much as 93% of homeless youth reporting accessing technology on a weekly basis (Pollio, Batey, Bender, Ferguson, & Thompson, 2013).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Yet, daily internet use through personally owned computers and smart phones is still typically difficult for many Page 5 of 29 A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t homeless youth to afford, and access has been shown to vary by housing status and age (Rice & Barman-Adhikari, 2014). Additionally, even when homeless youth do own phones or computers, they might not be able to use them optimally because they face other logistical issues such as not having a place to charge their phones or computers and dealing with theft (McInnes, Li, & Hogan, 2013 commonly used methods of access to technology by homeless youth, include social service agencies (60%) and libraries (54%), with fewer youth reporting use through internet cafés (14%) and friends' or families' computers (12%) (Pollio et al, 2013).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%