The information seeking and use behaviors of retired investors

Abstract

This exploratory study examines the information seeking and use behaviors of a group of US retired or near-retirement investors from everyday life information seeking and serious leisure perspectives. Although primarily qualitative, it also collects and analyzes quanitative data to describe retired investors’ information preferences and use. Semi-structured interviews and journaling are used to examine the information seeking behaviors of a diverse group of investors and to assess the impact that personal characteristics, such as sex, socio-economic status, and educational attainment have on their behaviors. Findings suggest that the female investors studied were less likely to create information intensive fields and that this tendency is exacerbated by low educational attainment. Furthermore, the male investors studied were more likely to adopt Internet technology for their investing information seeking regardless of their educational attainment. Recommendations are made for improving information services to this important segment of the population.

Understanding Older Adults’ Perceptions of Internet Use: An Exploratory Factor Analysis

“…Research suggests that demographic variables, computer experience, health condition, and financial status are correlated with older adults' perceptions on Internet use (Hogeboom et al, 2010;O'Connor, 2013). Chu (2010) studied older adults' Internet use and found a significant correlation among Internet use, hours, and gender with hours on the Internet accounting for a larger variance followed by gender.…”

“…Research has shown that access to health care and financial information has become critical to older adults (Cresci, Jarosz, & Templin, 2012;O'Connor, 2013). Hardt and Hollis-Sawyer (2007) argue that Internet access to health care and financial information will enhance older adults' general quality of life in terms of maintaining a healthy life style and empower them to make informed decisions in health and financial issues.…”

“…They found that health condition was in tandem with the desire and interest to know what to expect as one grows older. Individuals' financial status is also increasingly perceived to be connected with Internet use (Joo, Grable, & Choe, 2007;O'Connor, 2013). Tien and Tsai (2013) found that older adults consider the Internet to be one of major resources for financial consultation and management.…”

Towards an everyday life information literacy mind-set: a review of literature

“…for ensuring access to citizenship, health and financial information), however, empirical research on aspects of fostering the development of ELIL in this domain is scarce. One study that explored older adults' issues around financial stability points to the need for support around the development of ELIL (O'Connor, 2013). Examining older investors' information gathering, analysis and decision-making processes in particular, the study found that information accuracy around investment information is a significant issue for older adults within the digital era as availability of information does not guarantee information quality.…”

What difference does a theoretical lens make in conducting a study of human information interactions? Panel presented at the 2013 annual meeting of the association for information science & technology (ASIS&T)

“…People interact with information in a variety of ways and in a variety of contexts. Studies of such interactions have focused on a variety of users, from scholars' use of the literature (e.g., Ellis, Cox, & Hall, 1993) to the everyday information seeking of retired investors (O'Connor, 2013). They've also included multiple contexts (e.g., Agarwal, Xu, & Poo, 2011).…”