[part 1] [part 2] [part 3]
This extremely detailed survey from goo Research in conjunction with the NTT DATA Institute of Management Consulting, Inc looked at old people and computer and internet usage, and comparing these habits with that of younger people.
Demographics
Between the 12th and 16th of September 2008 1,064 members of the goo Research monitor panel completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 67.5% of the sample were male, 0.9% in their teens, 7.0% in their twenties, 17.4% in their thirties, 12.5% in their forties, 6.0% in their fifties, and 56.1% aged sixty or older. Note that everyone in the sample had access to a computer and has signed up to goo Research as a monitor, so please be aware of that before extrapolating the behaviour observed here to the general population of Japan.
The literacy levels here are high, but as cautioned above one is dealing with a more computer-aware population.
Q2 is curious in that people want most to learn how to install new hardware. It would be interesting to find out if it’s for the curiousity value of opening the box and poking around, in order to save expensive upgrade fees from a third party, or to just connect a new printer or camera without requiring an on-site visit.
Q4, Q5 and Q6 show a very distinct and interesting split between the sexes.
Research results
Q1: What is your computer literacy level? (Sample size=1,064)
| |
High
8-10 points |
Average
5-7 points |
Low
0-4 points |
| All |
64.0% |
26.3% |
9.7% |
| Sixty or over |
57.6% |
29.8% |
12.6% |
| Fifties |
67.2% |
21.9% |
10.9% |
| Forties |
81.2% |
12.8% |
6.0% |
| Thirties |
68.6% |
25.9% |
5.4% |
| Twenties |
68.0% |
28.0% |
4.0% |
Literacy was self-evaluated using the following scores:
Can you install software, peripherals, etc while referring to the manual, etc?
| |
Points |
| Yes |
2 |
| If someone is on hand to advise |
1 |
| No |
0 |
Can you perform speedy data entry using the keyboard and mouse?
| |
Points |
| Yes, rapidly |
2 |
| Yes, about average speed |
1 |
| No, only slowly |
0 |
Can you use new software just by referring to the manual, online help, etc?
| |
Points |
| Yes |
2 |
| If someone is on hand to advise |
1 |
| No |
0 |
Can you use a web browsers and electronic mail without difficulty?
| |
Points |
| Can use both |
2 |
| Just one of them |
1 |
| Neither |
0 |
Can you use a word processor, spreadsheet, etc to create a new document?
| |
Points |
| Yes |
2 |
| If there is a sample to work from |
1 |
| No |
0 |
Q2: Which of the following do you want to learn about, obtain? (Sample size=1,064, multiple answer)
| |
Sixty or over
N=597 |
Under sixty
N=467 |
| Hardware install, configuration |
35.2% |
37.7% |
| Typing speed |
22.1% |
22.9% |
| Word processor, spreadsheet software |
17.9% |
22.1% |
| Install, uninstall software |
17.9% |
15.0% |
| Other software, software function |
12.4% |
20.1% |
| Other |
4.0% |
3.4% |
| Nothing in particular |
34.8% |
35.1% |
The following four questions were answered by the over-sixties only.
Q3: What was the reason you bought a home computer? (Sample size=597, multiple answer)
| |
Male
N=490 |
Female
N=107 |
| For internet use |
82.5% |
86.0% |
| Needed for work |
38.2% |
13.1% |
| Prices dropped so became easier to purchase |
5.3% |
5.6% |
| More people around me were using computers |
5.3% |
9.4% |
| Other |
6.7% |
8.4% |
| Didn’t buy myself, received it from someone |
0.6% |
2.8% |
Q4: What did you mainly refer to when you bought your home computer? (Sample size=597, multiple answer)
| |
Male
N=490 |
Female
N=107 |
| Maker’s web site |
33.7% |
16.4% |
| Superstore’s staff’s opinion |
32.2% |
37.5% |
| Magazine, specialist publication |
26.3% |
4.8% |
| Product comparison web site |
22.4% |
8.7% |
| Friends’, family’s opinion |
17.7% |
45.2% |
| Use at, sold through work |
12.5% |
4.8% |
| Television advertisement |
3.7% |
3.9% |
| Other |
7.6% |
8.7% |
Q5: What did you mainly refer to when you chose your internet service provider? (Sample size=597, multiple answer)
| |
Male
N=490 |
Female
N=107 |
| Provider comparison web site |
19.4% |
5.6% |
| Provider’s web site |
19.2% |
13.1% |
| Superstore’s staff’s opinion |
19.0% |
13.1% |
| Friends’, family’s opinion |
17.4% |
36.5% |
| Magazine, specialist publication |
12.5% |
4.7% |
| Use at, sold through work |
5.7% |
2.8% |
| Television advertisement |
4.3% |
7.5% |
| Other |
10.2% |
11.2% |
| Nothing in particular |
22.0% |
22.4% |
Q6: What were the deciding factors when you chose which home computer to buy? (Sample size=597, multiple answer)
| |
Sixty or over
N=597 |
Under sixty
N=467 |
| Price |
69.0% |
77.0% |
| Ease of use |
38.1% |
38.6% |
| Maker |
36.7% |
33.3% |
| Support offered |
23.9% |
14.3% |
| Amount of pre-installed software |
13.7% |
10.3% |
| Design |
9.8% |
29.4% |
| Other |
6.3% |
9.9% |
[part 1] [part 2] [part 3]
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3 Comments
mike · January 14, 2009 at 09:19
Installing hardware is the tricky part. It is good knowing more older people are learning how to use the computer. One day all older people will know how as the younger crowd becomes old men and women.
Curzon · January 14, 2009 at 11:49
To say that 65% of people are high, and thus above average, is a perversion of (the English) language…
afatcow · January 14, 2009 at 12:29
I thought that Q4 and Q5 were interesting, seeing the obvious difference in answers between female and male. But, I guess the responses are basically expected.