Covid-19 Sürecinde Yaşlıların Enformasyon Arayışı ve Enformasyon Değerlendirmesi

Summary

This lecture discusses the research project 'Information Seeking and Information Evaluation of Older Adults in the COVID-19 Process' in Turkey, which highlights the digital inequalities faced by older adults. Initiated before the pandemic, the study utilized a macro dataset to examine how older adults accessed information during COVID-19. Key findings reveal significant disparities in information access based on social class and gender, with television being the primary source of information. The lecture emphasizes the need for inclusive policies to improve digital literacy and suggests media professionals adopt a life cycle perspective to address age discrimination in reporting.

Takeaways

• 😀 The research project, 'Information Seeking and Information Evaluation of Older Adults in the COVID-19 Process', emerged from earlier work on digital inequality and older adults, initiated in 2018.
• 😀 TÜBİTAK funded the project to investigate the social, human, and cultural effects of COVID-19 on older adults in Turkey.
• 😀 The study highlights a lack of macro data on older adults' media usage in Turkey, filling an important gap with new findings.
• 😀 Key research questions focused on the information needs of older adults during the pandemic, their knowledge levels, and media repertoires.
• 😀 Interviews with 1,075 older adults revealed significant barriers to accessing high-quality information, often attributed to social origins rather than age alone.
• 😀 Digital capital among older adults varies significantly based on social class and gender, influencing their access to and use of digital tools.
• 😀 Television is the primary source of information for 90% of older adults, with low usage of other media like radio and the internet.
• 😀 A significant portion of older adults lacks digital capital, with one-third having no access to digital tools and a large percentage having limited skills.
• 😀 The research found that misinformation spreads easily among older adults, especially through close social networks like family and friends.
• 😀 Recommendations for policymakers include leveraging public television for education and creating digital literacy programs in community libraries.

Q & A

What was the primary aim of the project 'Information Seeking and Information Evaluation of Older Adults in the COVID-19 Process'?

The project's primary aim was to investigate the information needs and evaluation practices of older adults in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly focusing on digital inequality.

How did the project come about?

The project emerged from previous research on older adults and digital inequality, which began in 2018. It was supported by TÜBİTAK after a call for studies on the social effects of COVID-19 in April 2020.

What were the main research questions addressed in the study?

The main questions included the types of information older adults needed about the pandemic, their level of knowledge regarding COVID-19, their media repertoires, and how they used the knowledge they acquired.

What demographic data was collected about the older adult participants?

The study found that 56% of participants were women, with significant educational disparities; 39% had no primary school degree and only 0.7% had a master's degree or higher.

What role did social class play in digital capital among older adults?

Social class was a crucial determinant of digital capital, influencing both the ownership of digital tools and the ability to use them, with older adults from lower classes facing greater challenges.

Which communication tools did older adults most frequently use for information seeking?

Television was the most commonly used tool, with 90% of older adults preferring it for information. Landline phones and smartphones followed as secondary tools.

How did the participants perceive information from online groups?

Participants exhibited high trust in information obtained from online groups, with over 80% not doubting its accuracy, indicating a potential spread of misinformation.

What findings were revealed regarding the recognition of false information?

The study showed that many participants failed to recognize specific false information, particularly conspiracy theories about the origins of the virus, highlighting gaps in critical information evaluation.

What recommendations were made for policymakers to improve information access for older adults?

Recommendations included using public television to educate older adults about information access and establishing digital literacy programs through local libraries to enhance their digital skills.

What responsibility do media professionals have in addressing age discrimination?

Media professionals should be aware of age discrimination in their reporting and create content that reflects the diverse experiences and needs of older adults, recognizing that they are not a homogeneous group.