University of Twente Student Theses
Older people's perception on younger people's smart phone usage - a comparison of older smart phone users and non-smart phone users
Vilbusch, Jana Sophie (2019) Older people's perception on younger people's smart phone usage - a comparison of older smart phone users and non-smart phone users.
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| Abstract: | Smart phones are used frequently nowadays in Germany, especially by teenagers and adults (14 – 64 years old). Elderly (65+ years old), however, are not using smart phones as regularly as younger people. The current study examined the perceptions of older people with and without smart phones concerning younger people’s smart phone usage with regard to social interactions. Therefore, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six German interviewees in the ages of 65 to 79 of whom three were and three were not in possession of a smart phone. The main result was that there seems to be a link between the factor of using a smart phone and the attitude concerning the younger people’s smart phone usage, whereby older smart phone users report more positive attitudes towards younger people’s smart phone usage than older non-users. Moreover, when not using a smart phone, elderly are more likely to perceive a loss of personal communication than when being in possession of a smart phone. These results can be explained especially by the own smart phone experience of the interviewees; when being used to a smart phone, one seems to be more positive and understanding about the way younger people use smart phones and to feel more socially connected with them than when not using the device. Future research should therefore consider the difference among elderly and should focus on how to reduce the loss of social interactions among younger people and older people. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology BSc (56604) |
| Keywords: | Older people, Younger people, Smart phone, Usage, Comparison, Social interactions |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/78459 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
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