Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Silver Surfers Search for Gold: a Study Into the Online Information-Seeking Skills of Those Over Fifty

  • Published:
Ageing International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Older adults are now the fastest growing population of online users the world over (Olson et al. Ageing International, 36(1), 123–145, 2011). Encouraging data continues to emerge regarding the rate of Internet adoption among those over fifty in particular (Hernandez-Encuentra et al. Educational Gerontology, 35(3), 226–245, 2009). Yet questions as to the effectiveness of such use and of training designed to advance the skills of our senior surfers continue to go unanswered. While a great deal has been written on seniors and technology in general, very few studies “regarding age and its influence on search behaviour” can be found (Singer et al. 2012). This paper uses Literature Review as a method to scope and define this gap. The need for future research that specifically addresses online searching behaviours and effective training in this area for those over fifty is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aula, A. (2005). User study on older adults; use of the Web and search engines. Universal Access in the Information Society, 4(1), 67–81. doi:10.1007/s10209-004-0097-7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2007). Older Australia at a glance: Cat. no. AGE 52 (4th ed.). Canberra: AIHW.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blaschke, C. M., Freddolino, P. P., & Mullen, E. E. (2009). Ageing and technology: a review of the research literature. British Journal of Social Work, 39(4), 641–656. doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcp025.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang, D.-F., & Lin, S.-P. (2011). Motivation to learn among older adults in Taiwan. Educational Gerontology, 37(7), 574–592. doi:10.1080/03601271003715962.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charness, N., & Boot, W. (2009). Aging and information technology use. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 18(5), 253–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chu, R. J.-c. (2010). How family support and Internet self-efficacy influence the effects of e-learning among higher aged adults—analyses of gender and age differences. Computers & Education, 55(1), 255–264. doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2010.01.011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cody, M. J., Dunn, D., Hoppin, S., & Wendt, P. (1999). Silver surfers: training and evaluating Internet use among older adult learners. Communication Education, 48(4), 269–286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Ruiter, J. (2002). Aspects of dealing with digital information: “Mature” novices on the Internet. Library Trends, 51(2), 199–209.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeGraves, D., & Denesiuk, R. (2000). The Seniors Computer information program: a pioneer website for seniors. Educational Gerontology, 26, 345–355.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Devlin, B., & Burke, M. (1997). Internet: the ultimate reference tool? Internet Research, 7(2), 101–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickinson, A., Eisma, R., Gregor, P., Syme, A., & Milne, S. (2005). Strategies for teaching older people to use the World Wide Web. Universal Access in the Information Society, 4(1), 3–15. doi:10.1007/s10209-003-0082-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dorin, M. (2007). Online education of older adults and its relation to life satisfaction. Educational Gerontology, 33(2), 127–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Echt, K. V., Morrell, R. W., & Park, D. C. (1998). Effects of age and training formats on basic computer skill acquisition in older adults. Educational Gerontology, 24(1), 3–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisk, A. D., Rogers, W. A., Charness, N., Czaja, S. J., & Sharit, J. (2009). Designing for older adults: Principles and creative human factors approaches. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Gust, K. (2006). Teaching with Tiffany’s : a go lightly approach to information literacy instruction for adult and senior learners. Reference Services Review, 34(4), 557–569.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez-Encuentra, E., Pousada, M., & Gomez-Zuniga, B. (2009). ICT and older people: beyond usability. Educational Gerontology, 35(3), 226–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jun, S.-K., & Evans, K. (2007). The learning cultures of Third Age participants: Institutional management and participants’ experience in U3A in the UK and SU in Korea. KEDI Journal of Educational Policy, 4(2).

  • Kambouri, M., Mellar, H., & Logan, K. (2006). Adult Learners and ICT: An Intervention Study in the UK. In W. Nejdl & K. Tochtermann (Eds.), Innovative approaches for learning and knowledge sharing (vol. 4227) (pp. 213–226). Berlin: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kuiper, E., Volman, M., & Terwel, J. (2008). Students’ use of web literacy skills and strategies: searching, reading and evaluating web information. Information Research: An International Electronic Journal, 13(3), 18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lugano, G. (2009). Towards an inclusive broadband society: An empirical study of digital natives and digital immigrants Finland. University of Finland: Agora Centre.

  • Lunn, D., & Harper, S. (2011). Providing assistance to older users of dynamic Web content. Computers in Human Behavior. 2011 July; eScholarID:215479 | doi:10.1016/j.chb.2011.06.004.

  • Megarrity, L. (2010). Books matter: the place of traditional books in tomorrow's library. Australian Library Journal, 59(1–2), 6–11.

  • Nahm, E.-S., & Resnick, B. (2008). Development and testing of the Web-Based Learning Self-Efficacy Scale (WBLSES) for older adults. Ageing International, 32(1), 3–14. doi:10.1007/s12126-008-9003-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olson, K., O’Brien, M., Rogers, W., & Charness, N. (2011). Diffusion of technology: frequency of use for younger and older adults. Ageing International, 36(1), 123–145. doi:10.1007/s12126-010-9077-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perkinson, M. A. (2013). Gerontology and geriatrics education: new models for a demographically transformed world. Generations, 37(1), 87–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants. On the Horizon, 9(5). Lincoln: NCB University Press.

  • Purcell, K., Brenner, J., & Rainie, L. (2012). Search engine use 2012. Pew Internet & American Life Project. Retrieved from http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Search-Engine-Use-2012/Main-findings/Search-engine-use-over-time.aspx.

  • Quintana, M., Pujol, M., & Romani, J. (2012). Internet navigation and information search strategies: how do children are influenced by their participation in an intensive ICT project. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 22, 513–529.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasmusson, M., & Eklund, M. (2013). It’s easier to read on the Internet—you just click on what you want to read…. Education and Information Technologies, 18(3), 401–419. doi:10.1007/s10639-012-9190-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson-Lang, L., Major, S., & Hemming, H. (2011). An exploration of search patterns and credibility issues among older adults seeking online health information. Canadian Journal on Aging, 30(4), 631–645.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russel, C., Campbell, A., & Hughes, I. (2008). Ageing, social capital and the Internet: findings from an exploratory studu of Australian “silver surfers”. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 27(2), 78–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruthven, J. (2010). The information-seeking behavior of online public library clients: a conceptual model. The Australian Library Journal, 59(1–2), 30–45. doi:10.1080/00049670.2010.10735963.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharit, J., Hernandez, M., & Czaja, S. (2008). Investigating the roles of knowledge and cognitive abilities in older information seeking on the web. Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction, 1(3), 320–325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer, G., Norbisrath, U., & Lewandowski, D. (2012). Impact of gender and age on performing search tasks online. ARXIV, eprint arXiv:1206.1494.

  • Waller, V. (2011). Not just information: who searches for what on the search engine Google? Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 62(4), 761–775. doi:10.1002/asi.21492.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weller, H. G., Repman, J., & Rooze, G. E. (1994). The relationship of learning, behaviour and cognitive styles in hypermedia-based instruction: implications for design of HBI. Computers in the Schools, 10, 401–420.

  • Winstead, V., Anderson, W. A., Yost, E. A., Cotten, S. R., Warr, A., & Berkowsky, R. W. (2013). You can teach an old dog new tricks: a qualitative analysis of how residents of senior living communities may use the web to overcome spatial and social barriers. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 32(5), 540–560. doi:10.1177/0733464811431824.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woodward, A., Freddolino, P., Blaschke-Thompson, C., Wishart, D., Bakk, L., Kobayashi, R., & Tupper, C. (2011). Technology and aging project: training outcomes and efficacy from a randomized field trial. Ageing International, 36(1), 46–65. doi:10.1007/s12126-010-9074-z.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zaphiris, P., Kurniawan, S., & Ghiawadwala, M. (2007). A systematic approach to the development of research-based web design guidelines for older people. Universal Access in the Information Society, 6(1), 59–75. doi:10.1007/s10209-006-0054-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of Interest

Renee Morrison declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Informed Consent

As there is no person or personal data appearing in the paper, there is no one from whom a permission should be obtained in order to publish personal data.

Ethical Treatment of Experimental Subjects (Animal and Human)

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by the any of the author.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Griffith University, 36 Siganto St, Mount Tamborine, Qld, 4272, Australia

    Renee Morrison

Authors
  1. Renee Morrison
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Renee Morrison.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Morrison, R. Silver Surfers Search for Gold: a Study Into the Online Information-Seeking Skills of Those Over Fifty. Ageing Int 40, 300–310 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-015-9224-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-015-9224-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation