Perceived risk associated with ICT
Codesigning participatory strategies with older adults to reduce perceived risk and promote digital inclusion.
Social exclusion is a significant threat to the wellbeing of older adults. One of the critical motivations for seniors’ lack of engagement with ICT and the digital economy, is perceived risks.
This project adopts an innovative multidisciplinary approach that focusses on codesigning strategies with older adults to take into account their lived experiences of ICT—connecting practice with perceptions.
Through interviews, surveys, and codesign activities, we are working with seniors from the University of the Third Age in building and launching a range of online digital resources. These include the creation of text, audio and video material, in the words of seniors, about how they perceive risk associated with ICT.
The resources also include a risk assessment simulation tool. Our tools will help seniors to manage perceived risks better, and consequently, make them better equipped to engage with the digital economy.
Report: Reducing Perceived Risk and Promoting Digital Inclusion for Older Australians
This report examines risk perceptions—that is, beliefs about potential harm or the possibility of a loss. It is a subjective judgment that people make about the characteristics and severity of a risk.
The report describes the outcomes of stage one of the project, Explore and Quantify. This includes an analysis of 22 exploratory interviews resulting in 22 video vignettes of older adults’ information and communication technology (ICT) risk perceptions (March 2021), and findings from a survey of approximately 400 members from the University of the Third Age (U3A) (June 2021)
This project was funded by a grant from the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN).
The operation of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network is made possible by funding provided by the Commonwealth of Australia under section 593 of the Telecommunications Act 1997. This funding is recovered from charges on telecommunications carriers.
The project started in August 2020 and will be completed by August 2022.
If you are interested in collaborating with us, and/or would like to learn more about how to
be part of this project, we would like to hear from you! Contact us here.