This 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).

The focus of this research is to understand how older adults perceive risk associated with ICT usage and ownership. Researchers used two forms of data collection:

Interviews: Researchers conducted 22 interviews with older adults from urban and rural areas in Victoria, Australia. We asked them about the risks they associated with ICT. We analysed this data and sorted the answers into five broad categories. From there, we discovered a range of subcategories of risk perceptions and how these manifest in beliefs, feelings, and behaviours.

Survey: Researchers are conducting a survey (online and paper versions) with the U3A community and have collected about 400 responses to date.

Key recommendations:

• Deeper investigation and co-design around digital literacy
• More nuanced methods in understanding barriers in everyday life
• More extensive exploration into the diversity of women’s digital practices