CASE STUDY
Text to Connect
“Cellphones can be
used to disconnect
us and distance us
from each other, but
at the same time,
they’re a major global
force for keeping us
connected.”
Dr. Sara Konrath
Social Psychologist
at Indiana University
Texting to Build Compassion
1
2
Recent studies show that empathy is declining in the United States while narcissism is increasing. Although technology may be a
contributing factor, technology also has great potential for improving the ways that we relate to each other.
CAN MOBILE TECHNOLOGY INCREASE EMPATHY IN TEENS?
Indiana University researcher Dr. Sara Konrath partnered with HopeLab to develop Text to Connect, an empathy-building text
message program. HopeLab brought its deep experience in research-based, user-centered technology design to the collaboration.
Together we developed a text-based outreach program with backend scientific evaluation capabilities and optimized text
messages that engaged teens.
Design with users in mind. HopeLab served as a critical bridge between researchers, designers, and the technology development
process. We sourced and collaborated with designers to create and refine iterations of a streamlined enrollment website for teens,
optimized the voice of the messages to engage teens, and contracted with developers to build and debug the SMS delivery
platform and the desktop and mobile-optimized enrollment website. Each of these steps was driven by HopeLab’s user-centered
design process. We conducted several rounds of surveys, focus groups, and qualitative interviews with teens, allowing their insights
to guide the intervention’s content and visuals. HopeLab also helped Konrath build her capacity to design better interventions in
the future. “As a result of this study, I was able to submit a large grant application. This was critical pilot data that demonstrated
expertise and feasibility within the adolescent age group,” explained Konrath.
“I like HopeLab’s approach to philanthropy, which goes beyond the simple giver-receiver dynamic and magnifies
their giving because it teaches their research partners new skills in the context of an active project. These new skills
for us included learning about how to conduct early stage and iterative user testing. It is silly to design the perfect
theoretically based intervention without hearing from the target group who will be using it. Having input early on from
that group can make interventions stickier in the real world.”
– Dr. Sara Konrath
1 Konrath, S.H., O’Brien, E.H., & Hsing, C. (2011). Changes in Dispositional Empathy in American College Students Over Time: A Meta-Analysis.
Personality and Social Psychology Review, 15(2), 180-198.
2 Twenge, J.M., Konrath, S.H., Foster, J.D., Campbell, W.K., & Bushman, B.J. (2008). Egos Inflating Over Time: A Cross-Temporal Meta-Analysis of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory.
Journal of Personality, 76(4), 875-902.
Blend technology and the science of empathy.
The final design fulfills Konrath’s vision by sending
participants regular text messages that shift their
attention toward others, increasing their sense of
connection and compassion. Simple, powerful reminders,
such as, “Think of a close family member. Think about
what you like about them,” or “Think of someone close to
you. Think about activities that you enjoy doing together,”
reach teens directly through SMS.
“I liked the constant reminders to take a step back
and look at things from a different perspective. It
forced me to look at the people around me and
try to care for them a little bit more.”
“Janxin [Leu, Director of
Product Innovation at
HopeLab] was a model
of effective project
management. She was like
the executive function of
our team, channeling our
energies effectively and
keeping us focused and on
task. Her mindfulness in this
role in turn challenged me
as a researcher to be more
mindful of how projects are
managed in my lab.”
Dr. Sara Konrath
– Text to Connect Teen User
Track impact. Text to Connect enables Konrath’s research
team to track the program’s scientific efficacy through
a registration website and pre- and post-intervention
surveys. In the Text to Connect 14-day trial, participants
in the study reported feeling more purposeful and
connected with friends and family, and felt a greater
sense of self-efficacy and control in their lives. This was
true regardless of the kind or number of messages they
received. Teens in the empathy condition (47.1%) also said that the texts helped them to think,
reflect more, or do nice things, compared with those in the self-esteem condition (36.6%). Most
importantly, the empathy text messages caused boys to behave more prosocially than the selfesteem messages — they were more likely to volunteer extra time to complete the survey and thank
the research team at the end of the study.
“It told me to think about someone close to me, or someone I fought with. I then realized
how much I cared for this person, and maybe fighting wasn’t a good idea.”
– Text to Connect Teen User
Imagine the future. Text to Connect provides evidence that carefully designed SMS initiatives
can be an effective way to reach and positively influence teens. The system created by Konrath
and HopeLab now supports Konrath and her team as they continue to investigate the potential
applications and impact of text-based tools for teens.
“Despite all the excitement around apps, there’s something very powerful about SMS as
an intervention delivery mechanism. As counterintuitive as it may sound, texting is more
ubiquitous than apps. Texting is where teens are at. They read the messages and think
about them in the context of their daily lives.”
– Dr. Janxin Leu, Director of Product Innovation at HopeLab
To learn more about Text to Connect, visit texttoconnect.org.
Explore our work at HopeLab.org
HopeLab is part of The Omidyar Group, representing the
1991 Broadway Street., Suite 136
personal, professional, and philanthropic interests of Pierre
Redwood City, CA 94063
and Pam Omidyar. For more, visit www.OmidyarGroup.com.
Tel. (650) 569-5900 Fax (650) 569-5901
“I enjoyed the text messages
that made me feel valued
by my peers. I think it made
me more confident and
thus more friendly and
approachable.”
Text to Connect Teen User
“The messages prompt people
to imagine others’ feelings
and experiences, and do
small, kind acts every day.”
Dr. Janxin Leu
Director of Product Innovation
at HopeLab