The research methodology to be utilised

To achieve the research aim and objectives outlined above, a mixed methods research methodology was used which focused on the collection of qualitative data. It was underpinned by the principles of participatory action research in combination with a desktop study (e.g. the empirical based literature review).

The participatory approach is unique which involves working collaboratively with older adults (also considered as ‘research partners’) in an ethical manner to co-construct the knowledge and understanding. It also allows the older adult research participants to embrace in learning reflection and evaluation in order to create learning and support mechanisms that they would explore, consider and adopt in a spirit of reciprocity.

The mixed methods research methodology consists of a number of data collection methods to be employed. These are briefly described in following sub section.

1.4.1 Empirical based literature review on older adult learning in the context of ICTs

An extensive literature review (the desktop study) was carried out. The literature reviewed was derived directly from experiments. The review drew on academic and research documents and surveyed various learning styles, empirical studies, andragogy (the principles of older adult learning) and pedagogy (the art of instruction and learning) associated with older adults, and lessons learned from other age group learning (e.g. post 16 learning). Key

11 demographic statistics were also included such as the extent older adults are engaged with learning and ICTs, as well as philosophical propositions with regards to the ‘networked society’ and the methodological approaches previously utilised.

1.4.2 Quantitative data analysis 1 – Secondary analysis of learning questions within the ‘Digital Engagement’ themed questionnaire

This consisted of quantitatively analysing and comparing 253 learning question responses from a ‘digital engagement’ themed questionnaire (obtained from the Sustaining IT use to promote autonomy and independence (SUS-IT) project which this PhD is linked to). The SUS-IT project’s aim is to sustain IT use of older people to promote autonomy and independence. It is a unique consortium of academic institutions, each with a particular role in the project, from strengthening capacity of effective participation to the dissemination of findings. The project comprises a number of work packages from 1 to 7. The SUS-IT project is one of a number of projects that is part of the New Dynamics of Ageing which is an eight year multidisciplinary research initiative with the ultimate aim of improving the quality of life of older people. Its aim is also to advance understanding of the new dynamics of ageing from a multidisciplinary perspective. The PhD is part of workpackage 5 within the SUS-IT project which explores the structures, relationships and working environments of older people’s use of technology. However, both the PhD and the SUS-IT project are independent from one another in terms of fulfilling their objectives and vice versa. However, the learning questions from the ‘digital engagement themed’

questionnaire were used as part of the PhD to strengthen the argument and

12 enhance validity and reliability. Additional work was carried out for the SUS-IT project which involved searching for literature and adding it to the database.

The PhD utilised a key resource from the SUS-IT project e.g. learning questions from the secondary source ‘digital engagement’ themed questionnaire. The findings in the thesis are related to components of the SUS-IT project. For example, the PhD inadvertently strengthened capacity for effective participation of older people in ICT research. It was also part of investigating potential of and barriers to sustained use of technologies by older people, and their solutions, as well as generating outputs to influence policy, research and design. There is also KT equal which is a consortium of UK researchers which extend the quality of life for older and disabled people. It sets out how ageing and disability research can make a difference to people’s lives (KT Equal 2013).

It brings together researchers, policymakers and service users to focus on issues that are important to older and disabled people. It influences regulations and good practice such as product design, and gathers knowledge and expertise about people’s well-being, independent living, self-management and quality of life. It as such seeks the perspectives and involvement of older and disabled people (KT Equal 2013). A KT Equal workshop was attended “Who is the User?” to as part of the research, which assigned the user to the role of the developer. The quantitative analysis was complemented by qualitative descriptors which consisted of analysing the data and inferring other ideas and propositions.

13 It was decided to design and formulate two new questionnaires. The ‘digital engagement’ questionnaire was constructed for exploratory work, and did not use a scale to measure the effectiveness of factors such as learning methods. It was also limited as it used a number of categorical answer responses. As such, the two new questionnaires (one for Non-IT users and the other for IT users) incorporated a scale to measure the extent of various factors relating to learning and technology usage. It also considered other factors to take into consideration such as the environment. The second quantitative component (comprising the two surveys) is described in the following sub section.

1.4.3 Quantitative data analysis 2 – IT users and Non IT users questionnaire with SPSS analyses

The two new questionnaires were designed and produced and sent to Age UK organisations with instructions for the respondents and a stamped addressed envelope (SAE) to return the self-completed questionnaires. Correspondence and agreement was established prior to the distribution of the questionnaires by contacting each organisation. The questionnaires were organised around two main themes: how older adults who used ICTs learned to use them and why older adults who do not use ICTs do not use them. The answers to the responses were coded so that the SPSS quantitative analysis could be applied.

The statistics program SPSS was used to carry out the analyses to test hypotheses and to sort qualitative responses. The following sub section briefly outlines the semi-structured in-depth interviews and their subsequent analyses and interpretations.

14 1.4.4 Qualitative data collection and analysis 1 – semi-structured in-depth interviews with coding and framework analyses

This consisted of conducting 10 semi-structured in-depth interviews with older adults (based upon a pilot interview), about topics encompassing learning and support mechanisms associated with using ICTs with respect to the dynamics of ageing. The questions were informed by the empirical based literature review, quantitative data questions and responses, as well as the objectives. The data was analysed via both coding and framework analyses. The following sub section describes the focus groups and analyses carried out.

1.4.5 Qualitative data collection and analysis 2 – focus groups with coding and framework analyses

This comprised 3 focus groups with older adults based at the Nottingham Elders Forum. The question topics were carefully formulated and were informed by questions and findings from both the empirical based literature review and semi-structured in-depth interviews to help evaluate and reinforce existing findings as well as to explore new learning and support topics.

The aim was to gain new insights with the focus group stage, and to reinforce any repeated themes as well as explore new ones. As such, its aim was to also produce different data sets from the question points and topic areas in relation to the objectives. The data sets from the focus groups were a lot broader than the interviews allowing for different avenues of topics to be explored.

The following sub section outlines the cultural probe workshops that were carried out.

15 1.4.6 Qualitative data collection and analysis 3 – cultural probes and

research diaries with affinity diagramming analysis

This stage involved older adults actually learning to use an Apple iPad and Cisco Flip Camera, and for them to document and record their findings, independently, in the form of research diaries at a cultural probes workshop. A cultural probes approach was used which encompassed recording the challenges, motivations and aspects of the digital technology that enabled effective and progressive learning. The topics of discussion were used to help structure the responses in relation to the objectives as well as reinforce and test existing findings and also explore others. This method is not considered as traditional as other qualitative and quantitative research methods such as surveys and interviews yet it allows the research participants to use and engage with new technology. It allows older adults to explore such technologies independently, and record them in a non-experimental setting which they are comfortable and familiar with. This can enhance the validity of the results as it occurs in a naturally occurring setting.

Each of these methods, along with the methodology has been explained further (including their validity) in the Methodology section. The next sub section justifies the methodological approach taken.

1.4.7 Why the methodology was chosen

The methodology adopted comprises a mixed methods approach and uses a combination of a desktop study and data collection that is underpinned by the principles of participatory action research. It is also complemented by a

16 quantitative approach. This is unique in that it collaboratively works with older adults to co-construct knowledge and understanding about their relationship with ICTs in an ethical manner by working with them and minimising the barrier between the research participant and researcher. It allows both the researcher and research participants to work collaboratively together, exchanging dialogue and topics of discussion. As such it aims to extract reliable data sets regarding the learning and support of older adults with ICTs. It uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods which complement one another, and are different in nature due to their distinguished paradigms (which is discussed in section 3.5). In particular it uses triangulation to address the research objectives and subsequent aim of the research.

The older adult research participants also engage with two prominent mobile technologies to explore their learning and support mechanisms, and consider new ones that may be effective in furthering their engagement with other ICTs.

The learning styles inform the learning and support mechanisms and strategies, and the link between theory and practice has been established. Further evaluation and justification of why the methodology was chosen is elaborated in Chapter 3 in the Research Design and Methodology section, along the drawbacks of it in the context of this research.

The original contribution to knowledge which extends the forefront of the discipline is summarised next.