3.5. Appropriate design
When conducting research with respondents on mobile devices the researcher should ensure that any task
given to the participant (e.g., a survey, a diary or discussion forum) is an appropriate length and presented
in a suitable format that is optimised across devices. While the research continues to evolve current
evidence suggests that mobile respondents may expect shorter interactions with researchers than in other
modes such as phones surveys or in-person focus groups. Because of the small size of the screen on
some mobile devices it is important that any instructions, questions, or forms presented on the screen be
clear and concise. Given the nature of mobile technology respondents may be more easily distracted and
more likely to lose concentration or the connection interrupted or dropped.
Similar cautions apply when designing surveys to be administered via mobile phone where anecdotal
reports indicate greater difficulty keeping respondents online with mobile phones as opposed to fixed-line
phones.