Older adult’s (OA) participation in the digital world is still behind other consumer segments globally. Capability of using technology is crucial for the OA so that they can be free and be self-independent. This study explores the impact of smartphone adoption on OA’s social transformation through the lens of the Capability Approach (CA) theory, which focuses on enhancing individual capabilities. In specific, it investigates OA’s personal experiences in using smartphone technology, which is assumed to socially transformed themselves. Using a qualitative method via focus group discussion (FGD) involving 20 participants, the study found five emerging themes: i) social and business connectivity, ii) independence and health management, iii) technology accessibility and affordability, iv) digital literacy – motivation and openness to learning, training, and v) supportive social networks and technology experts. Overall, findings show that OAs are capable of using smartphones, and that the smartphone technology does function in improving this group’s ability to stay connected with family, for some to manage their businesses, and their personal health and well-being. Access to technology and affordability, motivation, and openness to learning, and training play facilitating roles in OA’s use of the smartphone technology. The OA’s capability and confidence to use smartphones increased with the presence of social support from their trusted family members and/or other “technology experts”. From the perspective of CA theory, the study concludes that the OA’s problems in smartphone technology match their personal needs and problems; having social support facilitates ease of use and self-confidence in using the technology; and that smartphone technology has a positive impact on the social transformation of the OA and able to minimize social isolation problem. The findings offer several implications; one, on the importance of promoting smartphone technology to this group; two, on the importance of identifying specific and various technology applications to suit the OA’s needs; three, on the importance of not neglecting the OA as a consumer group in society. These will help the government and other stakeholders in tackling the digital divide among Malaysian consumers and contribute to building an inclusive and digitally just society.
Astell, A. J., McGrath, C., and Dove, E. (2019). “That’s for old so and so’s!”: Does identity influence older adults’ technology adoption decisions? Ageing and Society, 40(7), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X19000230
Barbour R (2007). Doing Focus Groups. The SAGE Qualitative Research Kit. Sage Publications: London.
Braun, V., and Clarke, V. (2021). Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide. SAGE Publications.
Campbell, S., Greenwood, M, Prior, S, Tonielle, T., Walkem, K., Young, S., Bywaters, D. and
Walker, Kim. (2020). Purposive sampling: complex or simple? Research case examples. Journals of Research in Nursing, Vol. 25(8), 652-661.
Clarke, V., and Braun, V. (2013). Successful Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide for Beginners. Sage:2013.
Carter, N., Bryant-Lukosius, D., DiCenso, A., Blythe, J., Neville, A.J. (2014) The use of triangulation in qualitative research. Oncol Nurs Forum. Sep 2014;41(5):545-547. [doi: 10.1188/14.ONF.545-547] [Medline: 25158659]
Fern E. (2001). Advancing Focus Group Research. Sage: Thousand Oaks: CA
Greenbaum T. (2000). Moderating Focus Groups A Practical Guide for Group Facilitation. Sage: Thousand Oaks: CA
Hassan, H., Nor, A. B. M., and Siraj, S. (2020). Digital literacy among elderly Malaysians: Addressing the barriers through innovative solutions. Journal of Digital and Social Media Marketing, 7(2), 123-137.
Hennink M, Kaiser B, and Marconi V (2016). Code saturation versus meaning saturation: How many interviews are enough? Qualitative Health Research, Vol 27(4). doi: 10.1177/1049732316665344.
Hennink, M., Kaiser, B.N., and Weber, M.B. (2019). What Influences Saturation? Estimating Sample Sizes in Focus Group Research, Qual Health Res. 2019 August; 29(10): 1483–1496. doi:10.1177/1049732318821692.
Ismail, K. A. and Abdul Wahid, N. (2023). Touching the covid-19 pandemic impacts on Malaysian older adults’ online shopping behaviours: A marketing business review. Journal of Governance and Integrity 6(2), 606–615.
Ismail, K. A. and Abdul Wahid, N. (2022). The Drivers and Barriers of Online Shopping Behaviours for Older Adults: A Review. International Journal of Education, Psychology, and Counselling, 7(47), 90-103.
Krueger, R. A., and Casey, M.A. (2014) Focus Groups: A Practical Guide for Applied Research. 5th ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. ISBN: 9781483365237
Locsin, Soriano, Juntasopeepun, Kunaviktikul and Evangelista (2021). Social Transformation and Social Isolation of Older Adults: Digital Technologies, Nursing, Healthcare. Collegian. 2021 October; 28(5): 551–558. doi:10.1016/j.colegn.2021.01.005.
Meijering, L., van Hoven, B., and Yousefzadeh, S. (2019). “I think I’m better at it myself”: The capability approach and being independent in later life. Research on Ageing and Social Policy, 7(1), 229–258. https://doi.org/10.4471/rasp.2019.3678
Merriam, S. B., and Tisdell, E.J. (2015). Qualitative Research: A Guide to Design and Implementation. 4th ed. John Wiley; 2015.
Morgan D (1997) Focus Groups as Qualitative Research, Second edition, Qualitative Research Methods Series, Vol. 16 Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications
Moschis, G. P. (1994). Consumer behavior in later life: multidisciplinary contributions and implications for research. Journal of the Academy Marketing Science, 22(3), 195-204. doi:10.1177/0092070394223001
Moschis, G.P., and Mathur, A. (1993). How they’re acting their age. Marketing Management, 2(2), 41-50.
Moschis, G.P., Mathur, A., and Smith, R.B. (1993). Older consumers’ orientations toward age-based marketing stimuli. Journal of the Academy Marketing Science, 21(3), 195-205. doi:10.1177/0092070393213003
Price, M. M., Pak, R., Müller, H., and Stronge, A. (2013). Older adults’ perceptions of usefulness of personal health records. Universal Access in the Information Society, 12(2), 191–204.
Rabiee, F. (2004). Focus-group interview and data analysis. Proc Nutr Soc. Nov 2004;63(4):655-660. [doi: 10.1079/pns2004399] [Medline: 15831139]
Rogers, E.M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th edition). New York: Free Press.
Robeyns, I. (2006). The capability approach in practice. Journal of Political Philosophy, 14(3), 351–376. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9760.2006.00263.x
Robeyns, I. (2017). Wellbeing, freedom and social justice: The capability approach re-examined. Open Book Publishers. https://doi.org/10.11647/OBP.0130
Seifert, A., Cotten, S. R., and Xie, B. (2021). A double burden of exclusion? Digital and social exclusion of older adults in times of covid-19. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 76(3), 1-5.
Sen, A. (1999). Development as Freedom. Oxford University Press.
Siddharta, A. (2023) Smartphone ownership in Malaysia 2021, by age. Statista October 27, 2023.
Soh, P. Y., Heng, H. B., Selvachandran, G., Anh, L. Q., Chau, H. T. M., Son, L. H., Abdel-Baset,M., Manogaran, G., and Varatharajan, R. (2020). Perception, acceptance, and willingness of older adults in Malaysia towards online shopping: a study using the UTAUT and IRT models. Journal of Ambient Intelligence and Humanized Computing.
Tan, K.H. (2017) The iPhone is 10. http://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2017/01/09/
how-the-world-haschanged-thanks-to-the-iphone/. Accessed 03 Nov 2017
Tsai, H. Y. S., Shillair, R., and Cotten, S. R. (2017). Social support and “playing around”: An examination of how older adults acquire digital literacy with tablet computers. Journal of Applied Gerontology. Jan 36(1): 29-55.
UNECE Working Group on Ageing (2021), UNECE Policy Brief on Ageing No. 26 July 2021, unece.ageing@un.org
Wong, C. Y. (2011). Exploring the Relationship Between Mobile Phone and Senior Citizens: A Malaysian Perspective. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction (IJHCI), Volume (2) Issue (2), 65-77
Wong, C. Y., Ibrahim, R., Hamid, T.A., and Mansor, E.I. (2018). Usability and Design Issues of Smartphone User Interface and Mobile Apps for Older Adults in N. Abdullah et al. (Eds.) i-USEr 2018, CCIS 886, pp. 93–104, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1628-9_9
