This document contains links to studies done that may be of interest to those developing Web content and services for older adults.
Note that this is a brief selection of items. You may also be interested in studies from AARP, a list of usability resources or a list of related organizations.
For a more comprehensive search, we suggest our AgeLine database, which containing detailed summaries of publications about older adults and aging, including books, journal and magazine articles, research reports, and videos.
- Older Americans and the Internet (2004)
- The latest in a series of reports from the Pew Internet and American Life Project. Reports on various demographics related to older adults and the Internet and also provides an analysis of Internet activities for this population.
- UCLA Center for Communication Policy Internet Report: Year Three (2003)
- In 2000, the first report of the UCLA Internet Project created a baseline profile of behavior and attitudes about Internet use and non-use in five major subjects: Who is online and who is not, media use and trust, consumer behavior, communication patterns, and social effects. In 2001 and 2002, the UCLA Internet Project continued its year-to-year appraisal of more than 100 major issues, focusing on Internet users vs. non-users, as well as new users (less than one year of experience) compared to very experienced users (six or more years of experience). This report details the results of Year Three of the UCLA Internet Project.
- A Nation Online: How Americans Are Expanding Their Use of the Internet (2002)
- This report by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration shows the rapidly growing use of new information technologies across all demographic groups and geographic regions. Not only are many more Americans using the Internet and computers at home, they are also using them at work, school, and other locations for an expanding variety of purposes.
- How Do People Evaluate a Web Site's Credibility? (2002)
- The Stanford University Persuasive Technology Lab has investigated what causes people to believe — or not believe — what they find online. This consumer-driven study, commissioned by Consumer WebWatch, invited more than 2,600 average people to rate the credibility of Web sites in 10 content areas. This study was launched jointly with a parallel, expert-focused project conducted by Sliced Bread Design, LLC, titled, Experts vs. Online Consumers: A Comparative Credibility Study of Health and Finance Web Sites (also available off this page).
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If you have a resource for our list, please email us at webupdate@aarp.org.