Measuring Senior Technology Acceptance: Development of a Brief, 14-Item Scale

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Older adults can benefit from technology, but their acceptance and usage are crucial for desired outcomes.
• The original Senior Technology Acceptance Model (STAM) is a 38-item, 11-construct measure with satisfactory psychometric properties.
• The lengthy STAM questionnaire poses a burden on respondents and limits its practical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a brief, reliable, and valid version of the STAM questionnaire.
• To shorten the original 38-item STAM to reduce respondent burden and increase usability.
• To maintain the psychometric integrity of the original STAM in a condensed format.

Main Methods:

• A sequential item-reduction strategy was employed to maximize internal consistency.
• Confirmatory factor analysis was used for convergent and discriminant validity assessment.
• Data from 1,012 Hong Kong residents aged 55+ were analyzed; expert review ensured content validity.

Main Results:

• A 14-item, brief STAM questionnaire with a 4-factor structure was developed.
• The factors represent classical technology acceptance constructs and age-related health characteristics.
• The brief STAM demonstrated robust psychometric properties, mirroring the original STAM's reliability and validity.

Conclusions:

• The short STAM provides a reliable and valid tool for assessing older adults' technology acceptance.
• This condensed version saves administration time and reduces respondent burden.
• The short STAM is suitable for inclusion in large-scale surveys and research.