About This Project
This page is part of a larger project focusing on how the Juneau Public Library, in Juneau, Alaska, provides digital literacy services to its community. This project is conducted as part of the course requirements of CIS 650 (Applying Diversity Leadership Theories & Praxis) course in Spring 2025. This project was developed with input from Juneau Public Library's Outreach Coordinator.
Downtown Juneau, Alaska
Technology Information Survey for Adults 50 Years or Older
In March 2025, I distributed a survey to determine the online technology applications (apps) used by people 50 years or older. This survey was sent to a small pool of Juneau natives and posted on my Facebook page, gathering random participation from a pool of 450 friends and acquaintances. 65 people responded to this request and participated in the survey. The survey was a mixed-methods survey consisting of three quantitative questions, one qualitative question, and one demographic question. The quantitative questions asked participants to identify which online technology apps they used, where they go for technology support, and what learning style they prefer (self-directed or with guidance). The qualitative question asked participants to identify the one technology app they would like to learn and why. The single demographic question asked for participants' age range. The methodology is discussed below.
Quantitative Methodology
Each of the three quantitative questions provided a list of choices for the participant. These three questions and their response choices were:
Q1: Please select each online technology application shown below that you currently use or have used in the past.
--Social Media Apps (Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, X, TikTok, etc._
--Ordered groceries online for pickup or delivery
--Purchased online goods from Amazon
--Used Uber for taxi services
--Used an online cash payment app (Venmo, PayPal, etc)
--Used nutrition/health/weight loss apps
--Used an online banking app
--Used an online weather app
--Paid bills online
--Scheduled virtual appointments for dentist/doctor or other service-based business
--Used GPS (Google Maps, WAZE, etc) for driving/walking directions
--Used online ebook/audiobook apps like Libby, Hoopla, Audible, Kindle Unlimited, etc.)
--Used Zoom, FaceTime, or other communication apps to meet with people
--Used the Google Apps Productivity Suite (Chrome, Gmail, Docs, Sheets, etc.)
--Used online music apps (Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, etc._
--Played games on technology devices (Phone, iPad, Computer)
--Used an online password manager
--Applied for a job online
--Logged onto a government portal such as Social Security to access your data
--Watched streaming media on your phone or tablet (YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, etc.)
--Listened to podcasts
Q2: When you need help using a technology application, whom do you ask?
--Family Member
--Friend
--Internet Tutorial
--Public Library
--Work Peer
--Other
Q3: How do you learn new technology skills best?
--Self Direction
-- With Guidance
Qualitative Methodology
The single qualitative question asked participants if they could learn one technology application they are unfamiliar with, what it would be, and why. Technology application categories were created by applying a grounded theory (Glaser & Strauss, ????) approach to participants' open-ended responses.
Demographics
The only demographic question asked for participant age ranges. The participant age range breakdown was: 29.2% ages 70+, 30% ages 61-65, 20% ages 50-55, 10.8% ages 56-60, and 9.2% ages 66-70.
Survey Findings
Q1 Findings
This survey aimed to determine what technology applications are being used by seniors aged 50 and above. The survey results for Q1 indicate that the seniors participating in this survey use online technology applications regularly. The two highest-use applications are purchasing online goods from Amazon at 98.5% [n=64] and using GPS applications like Google Maps at 96.9% [n=63]. 95.4% [n=62] of participants use an online weather app. 93.8% [n=61] of participants indicated that they use social media apps and online communication apps such as Zoom and FaceTime. 90.8% [n=59] of participants indicated that they use an online banking app, pay bills online, and watch streaming media online. Technology applications with the next highest use include reading the news online (86.2% [n=56]), using "how to" tutorials online (87.7% [n=57]), and using an online cash payment app (83.1% [n=54]). Between 72% and 78% of participants use online eBook/audiobook applications (73.8% [n=48]), online music apps (72.3% [n=47]), the Google apps productivity suite (76.9% [n=50]), played games on technology devices (76.9% [n=50]), and logged onto a government website portal such as Social Security (78.5% [n=51]). 69.2% [n=45] have scheduled virtual appointments for service-based businesses. 61.5% [n=40] have ordered groceries online and used Uber for taxi services. The technology applications used by 55% or less of the survey participants include using a nutrition/health/weight management app (46.2% [n=30]), using an online password manager (46.2% [n=30]), applying for a job online (40% n=26]), subscribing to an online news service (55.4% n=36]), or listening to podcasts (55.4% [n=36]). Figure One provides the specific response numbers and percentages for each of the technology applications listed in Q1.
Figure One: Survey Responses to Question One
Q2 Findings
Question two asked survey participants where they go when seeking help using technology applications. 63.1% [n=41] reach out to a family member, 58.5% [n=38] use an Internet tutorial, 36.9% reach out to a friend, 26.2% [n=17] reach out to a work peer, 6.2% [n=4] seek help from a public library, and 3% [n=2] selected other.
Q3 Findings
Question three asked survey participants about their preferred way to learn new technology skills. 53.8% [n=35] indicated that they prefer to have guidance when learning a new technology skill, and 46.2% [n=30]indicated that they prefer to be self-directed when learning a new technology skill.
Q4 Findings
The online technology applications survey participants are interested in learning about are as follows: five survey participants are interested in learning about online ebook/audiobook/movie/music apps; eight participants are interested in learning about productivity software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and budgeting programs; three participants are interested in coding and programming languages; two participants are interested in cell phone applications like tracking, admin clean up; four participants are interested in banking, budget, investment, and crypto applications; seven participants are interested in AI applications; one participant is interested in social media applications; One participant is interested in technology applications in automobiles; one participant is interested in health apps; ten participants are interested in photo, video, and graphic design programs; two participants are interested in learning about podcasts; three participants are interested in cybersecurity; two participants are interested in messaging/social media apps; one participant is interested in learning about an online instructional portal and one participant would like to learn web design software; two participants want to learn about how to use their mobile devices and about connectivity; and two participants are interested in learning about specialized software such as CalTopo and Zapier Automation. Six participants indicated that they were not interested in learning about any technology applications, and three were not sure what technology applications they wanted to learn.
Discussion
Analysis of the data gathered through the survey tool indicates that there are only three technology applications in use by 30 participants or fewer: using an online nutrition/health/weight management app, an online password manager, and applying for a job online. It stands to reason that applying for a job would have a low response rate, given that the population surveyed is mostly retired. However, the survey response data does indicate that seniors 50 and over are technologically savvy and are using technology applications in their daily lives. Public libraries have an opportunity to provide technology support to their communities, given that over 50 percent of the respondents stated that they preferred to learn technology skills with guidance (Geerts et al., 2024, p. 7322; Bennett-Kapusnicak, 2013, p. 207). Most interesting is the list of technology applications that the survey respondents are interested in learning, especially AI applications. Their responses indicate that public libraries should continue to teach about how to use digital library resources, online software application technologies such as Google Apps, and graphic design/photo editing applications. The survey responses also indicate that public libraries should look at offering some advanced technology application classes, such as coding, using banking and investment apps, and cybersecurity. Public libraries should also offer 'How To" classes for using technology devices, including tablets, phones, and, interestingly enough, automobile technology (Tomczyk et al., 2024, p. 514).
References
Bennett-Kapusniak, R. (2013). Older Adults and the Public Library: The Impact of the Boomer Generation, Public Library Quarterly, 204-222, https://doi.org/10.1080/01616846.2013.818814
Geerts, N., Schirmer, W., Vercruyssen, A., Glorieux, I. (2024). Exploring Older Adults ICT Support: A Mismatch Between Needs and Provision. New Media & Society, 26(12), 7314-7330. https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448231166356
Tomczyk, Lukasz, & Edisherashvili, Natalia. (2024). Learning Objectives in Older Adult Digital Education - Redefining Digital Inclusion. International Journal of Cognitive Research in Science, Engineering, and Education (IJCRSEE), 12(3), 507-520. https://doi.org/10.23947/2334-8496-2027-12-3-507-520