Older Adults' Training Preferences for Learning to Use Technology

Mitzner, Tracy L.; Fausset, Cara Bailey; Boron, Julie Blaskewicz; Adams, Anne; Dijkstra, Katinka; Lee, Chin Chin; Rogers, Wendy A.; Fisk, Arthur D.

doi:10.1037/e578332012-003

Cited by 20 publications

(23 citation statements)

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“…They also stressed the importance of engaging in hands-on learning activities. This finding supports those of others (Callahan, Kiker, & Cross, 2003; Mitzer et al, 2008) that indicated that an active learning process is optimal for older learners. Our participants also indicated that access to feedback was important.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Training Older Workers for Technology-Based Employment

Lee

Czaja

Sharit

2008

Educational Gerontology

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An increasingly aging workforce and advances in technology are changing work environments and structures. The continued employability of older adults, particularly those of lower socioeconomic status (SES), requires them to participate in training programs to ensure their competence in today's workplace. Focus groups with 37 unemployed adults (51-76 years old) were conducted to gather information about barriers and obstacles for returning to work, training needs and formats, work experiences, and perceptions of the characteristics of an ideal job. Overall, results indicated that participants experienced age discrimination and lack of technology skills. They also expressed a desire to receive additional training on technology and a preference for classroom training.The aging of the baby-boom cohort is coupled with changes in retirement policies, programs, and behavior and increased concerns about dwindling resources to support retirement incomes. These factors are contributing to a renewed interest in the development of strategies to promote continued employment of older adults. It is generally recognized that the extent to which older people remain productively employed will have a large impact on business/industry, government programs and the economy, and the quality of life of older adults themselves. In the year 2002 there were about 61 million people aged 55+ in the U.S. This number is expected to grow to 103 million by 2025, representing 30% of the population (U.S. General Accounting Office, 2003).There are a number of factors influencing the extent to which the cohort of older adults will continue to work in order to have the financial incentives, the healthcare benefits, and/or the opportunity to socialize with others. For example, a recent report from AARP (2007) indicates that more than one-third (39%) of today's 50+ workers from the G7 countries are planning to The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. This article may be used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, re-distribution, re-selling, loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. continue working in some capacity in retirement. Among the reasons for continuing working after retirement are the needs for extra money, staying mentally healthy, and being productive. NIH Public AccessThe changes of the work environment of the 21st century have created new knowledge, skill, and ability requirements for workers. For example, ongoing developments in technology are reshaping production proce...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Training Older Workers for Technology-Based Employment

Lee

Czaja

Sharit

2008

Educational Gerontology

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“…According to the selective engagement theory [21], people would become more selective in how they allocate their cognitive resources with age. It could be related to a well-supported fact that the older adults are less willing to learn technology via trail-and-error compared to other training methods such as reading a printed manual [40]. The Diffusion of Innovation theory [41] points out that trialability or testability are keys for potential adopters to evaluate an innovation, and it would predict that older adults are less likely to be early adopters of new technology (e.g., robots) compared to younger adults because older adults might be less willing to actually use it.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Age Difference in Perceived Ease of Use, Curiosity, and Implicit Negative Attitude toward Robots

Chien

Chu²,

Lee

et al. 2019

J. Hum.-Robot Interact.

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Understanding older adults' attitudes toward robots has become increasingly important as robots have been introduced in various settings, such as retirement homes. We investigated whether there are age differences in both implicit and explicit attitudes toward robots after interacting with an assistive robot. Twenty-four younger and 24 older adults were recruited. Explicit attitudes were measured by self-reported questionnaires both before and after interacting with the robot. State curiosity toward robots was also measured as a momentary form of explicit attitude. Implicit attitude was measured via an implicit association test. Our results showed that (1) both older and younger adults had more positive explicit attitudes toward robots after interaction; (2) older adults had lower state curiosity than younger adults, however, their state curiosity would be up to the same level as younger adults when they perceived the robot with higher levels of personal association; and (3) the implicit association between robots and negative words was stronger for older adults than younger adults, suggesting that older adults had more implicit negative attitude toward robots. The results suggest that, despite older adults' relatively more negative implicit attitude toward robots, personally relevant positive experiences could help improve their explicit attitudes toward robots.

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“…These questions were followed by a discussion of training, which is not the focus of the present paper (see Mitzner et al, 2008). …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Older adults talk technology: Technology usage and attitudes

Mitzner

Boron

Fausset

et al. 2010

Computers in Human Behavior

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579

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Older adults (n = 113) participated in focus groups discussing their use of and attitudes about technology in the context of their home, work, and healthcare. Participants reported using a wide variety of technology items, particularly in their homes. Positive attitudes (i.e., likes) outnumbered negative attitudes (i.e., dislikes), suggesting that older adults perceive the benefits of technology use to outweigh the costs of such use. Positive attitudes were most frequently related to how the technology supported activities, enhanced convenience, and contained useful features. Negative attitudes were most frequently associated with technology creating inconveniences, unhelpful features, as well as security and reliability concerns. Given that older adults reported more positive than negative attitudes about the technologies they use, these results contradict stereotypes that older adults are afraid or unwilling to use technology. These findings also highlight the importance of perceived benefits of use and ease of use for models of technology acceptance. Emphasizing the benefits of technology in education and training programs may increase future technology adoption.

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Older Adults' Training Preferences for Learning to Use Technology

Cited by 20 publications

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Training Older Workers for Technology-Based Employment

Training Older Workers for Technology-Based Employment

Age Difference in Perceived Ease of Use, Curiosity, and Implicit Negative Attitude toward Robots

Older adults talk technology: Technology usage and attitudes

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