Efficacy of a Messaging App Designed to Provide Informational and Socio-Emotional Support to College-Bound Students

• In Event: Studies of Technology and Social, Emotional, or Motivational Constructs

Abstract

An experimental study examined the efficacy of a texting app providing informational and socio-emotional support for traditionally underserved high school graduates to help them follow through on intended enrollment in college. In the study, 218 (M_age = 17.8 years) high school graduates used one of two versions of the texting app (Informational v. Informational+Socio-emotional). We analyzed their subsequent enrollment in an intended university system. Results demonstrated a non-significant difference between the groups, but with a trend towards participants in the Informational+Socio-emotional condition following through on enrollment more frequently. Implications are suggested of the feasibility of implementing texting apps for supporting college enrollment, and lessons learned that impact ongoing development of these texting apps.

Authors

• Charles Raffaele, The City University of New York

• Teresa M. Ober, University of Notre Dame

• Bruce Douglas Homer, CUNY Graduate Center

• June Ahn, University of California, Irvine

• Alisha Ali, New York University