An investigation into factors that influence senior citizens in their uptake of IT Skills

Masters Thesis from the year 2010 in the subject Sociology - Old Age, grade: 2nd Class Honours, course: Educational Technologies - POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH DEGREE, language: English, abstract: This research is a study to investigate factors, both negative and positive, which influenced 57 senior respondents aged 65years old and over in their uptake of IT skills from three senior citizen environments. It is also an investigation on the development and testing of a specially designed Internet Application in the same environment. The 57 senior citizens were surveyed to ascertain their attitudes towards computer technology. The analysis of the data suggests that the majority of seniors experienced negative attitudes and anxieties towards computer technology, and would find the browsing application useful. The study also includes a qualitative research of such aspects as the participants attitudes and anxieties when it comes to using technology.