The Joys and Dilemmas of Conducting UX Research with Older Adults

Key Insights

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  Older adults are often unfairly dismissed as unable to use technology, but many learn out of necessity and represent a significant user base.

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  Defining 'older adults' precisely (beyond 65+) helps tailor research and recruitment more effectively.

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  Nearly 45% of seniors over 65 lack wired internet at home, requiring alternative research methods beyond online-only.

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  Text messaging, phone calls, mail, and in-person socially distanced sessions are effective research methods for older adults without internet.

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  Health literacy varies widely among older adults, so research content must be simple, warm, and jargon-free to engage participants.

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  Familiarity with technology does not equal fluency; scheduling tech checks before sessions reduces barriers and anxiety.

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  Piloting research tools with actual older participants is critical for uncovering challenges that internal pilots miss.

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  Building rapport at the start and debriefing at the end of sessions is particularly important as older adults value social connection deeply.

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  Older adults may hesitate to admit difficulties during research, so attentive observation and direct assessment of accessibility are necessary.

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  Rigid adherence to scripts risks missing valuable emotional or unexpected participant insights, especially in sensitive healthcare contexts.

Notable Quotes