Life-span differences in the uses and gratifications of tablets: Implications for older adults

Abstract

This study extends Uses and Gratifications theory by examining the uses and gratifications of a new technological device, the tablet computer, and investigating the differential uses and gratifications of tablet computers across the life-span. First, we utilized a six-week tablet training intervention to adapt and extend existing measures to the tablet as a technological device. Next, we used paper-based and online surveys (N=847), we confirmed four main uses of tablets: 1) Information Seeking, 2) Relationship Maintenance, 3) Style, 4) Amusement and Killing time, and added one additional use category 5) Organization. We discovered differences among the five main uses of tablets across the life-span, with older adults using tablets the least overall. Builders, Boomers, GenX and GenY all reported the highest means for information seeking. Finally, we used a structural equation model to examine how uses and gratifications predicts hours of tablet use. The study provides limitations and suggestions for future research and marketers. In particular, this study offers insight to the relevancy of theory as it applies to particular information and communication technologies and consideration of how different periods in the life-span affect tablet motivations.

Feasibility of PROMIS CAT Administration in the Ambulatory Sports Medicine Clinic With Respect to Cost and Patient Compliance: A Single-Surgeon Experience

“…It is possible that the decreased response rates for older patients is due to an unfamiliarity with using electronic tablets; this can in turn lead to a longer time to completion. 8,21 A longer time to completion would increase the likelihood for patients to be interrupted by clinical staff and taken to the examination room before finishing the PROMIS forms, a common complaint among our noncompliant patients.…”

How players across gender and age experience Pokémon Go?

“…In relation to behavioral intentions of users in computermediated environments, age has been one of the predominant factors exerting effects on a number of constructs such as self-efficacy, skill acquisition, trust, willingness to adopt, social/pragmatic dependency, and outcome expectations [44]. Prior research on online information seeking [56], cellular phones [18], tablet devices [44], and social networking sites [46][47][48], suggests that perceptions, usage, access, adoption, as well as diffusion of various technologies, vary substantially among younger and older age groups. Much of games research concentrates on studying adolescents and young gamers [9,11,59].…”

Uses and Gratifications Sought From Mobile Phones and Loneliness Among Japanese Midlife and Older Adults: A Mediation Analysis

“…While the generational divide in mobile phone adoption may be shifting ( Gilleard, Jones, & Higgs, 2015 ; Taipale, Wilska, & Gilleard, 2018 ), age remains strongly, negatively correlated with technology adoption, including when comparing middle-aged adults’ use with older adults’ use ( Carr, Gotlieb, Lee, & Shah, 2012 ; Van Deursen & Van Dijk, 2014 ). Magsamen-Conrad, Dowd, Abuljadail, Alsulaiman, and Shareefi (2015) found that, compared with older adults, middle-aged adults are more active users of tablets to track healthy lifestyle habits, maintain social communication, prevent accidents, and seek information. Compared with their younger counterparts, older adults are also less likely to be active users of the Internet ( Friemel, 2016 ; Zickuhr, 2013 ).…”

“…Nonetheless, when it comes to mobile phone use in particular (as opposed to technology more broadly), compared with younger users, older adults tend to be more likely to use mobile phones for their original design purpose—that is, making calls for instrumental reasons such as arranging plans and other instrumental activities rather than playing games, surfing the internet, or using auxiliary applications ( Magsamen-Conrad et al, 2015 ).…”

“…Mobile phones serve instrumental purposes, such as facilitating business transactions or business-related conversations, as well as sociability purposes, where usage is motivated by the desire to socialize and connect with friends and family ( Grellhesl & Punyanunt-Carter, 2012 ). Mobile phone usage can also be motivated by entertainment-seeking, passing time, or escaping an undesirable situation or event ( Chen, Chan, & Tsang, 2014 ; Magsamen-Conrad et al, 2015 ). They may also be used for information-seeking ( Papacharissi, 2011 ), organization of time, documents, and information ( Ku, Chu, & Tseng, 2013 ); and for purposes of reassurance, whereby users maintain a sense of security and safety in case of an emergency ( Gonzales, 2014 ; Leung & Wei, 2000 ).…”