Conducting research with Middle Age Adults and Older Adults in Indonesia
Conducting research with Middle Age Adults or Older Adults can sometimes be challenging, especially for researchers who are not familiar with technology, especially if the research involves a tech product.
Alhamdulillah, I feel grateful for the opportunity to conduct research with participants at GoCement. GoCement is where I currently work, and its main goal is to make buying building materials easier for contractors, home owners, and project owners through digital means. In the traditional approach, they had to survey different places one by one to find cheaper prices for their projects. However, with GoCement, they no longer need to do that because they can simply look for and purchase the materials online.
The focus of GoCement is on contractors, home owners, and project owners who are familiar with construction projects. Through my observations, I’ve found that the majority of individuals involved in construction work are middle-aged adults and older. The youngest ones are typically in their 30s, while the most dominant age group for contractors and home owners falls between their 40s and late 50s.
There are several things that need to be considered when doing a research with Older Adults especially a Usability Testing :
- Be Patient
Middle-aged and older adults are often busy with their occupations, whether they are selling building materials as merchants or inspecting construction projects as contractors. Therefore, when conducting research with them, it’s crucial to allocate more time and be prepared for the research to take longer.
Usability testing, in particular, may require extra time with middle-aged and older adults because they might not have the same problem-solving abilities as younger adults, especially if they have had limited exposure to technology throughout their lives. Being patient during the testing process is essential. Observe how they interact with the technology, and if they encounter difficulties, ask them for the reasons behind their actions and explore potential opportunities based on their reactions.
By taking the time to understand their perspective and challenges, we can gather valuable insights to improve the technology and make it more user-friendly for middle-aged and older adults.
2. Place yourself in their real environment.
Conducting research in the participants’ real environment helps them feel more at ease and less pressured during the study. For instance, if we are researching builders (tukang), we can visit their construction project sites or traditional coffee shops called Warkop, where they are more comfortable and engaged. This approach is preferable over going to fancier coffee shops like Starbucks or Excelso, as it allows us to connect with them in a more familiar setting.
When it comes to usability testing (UT), conducting it in the real environment has significant benefits. It helps us understand how the product performs in actual conditions. For example, we can see if the color looks great under direct sunlight or if the font remains visible under such conditions. This approach is ideal as it gives us a realistic understanding of how the app will be used, unlike a controlled lab setting.
However, conducting tests in the real environment can be a bit tricky because it’s not as controlled as the lab environment. There might be distractions like background noise, especially for middle-aged and older adults, where focus is crucial. So, it’s important to be patient, as I mentioned earlier, and prepared for any unexpected challenges that may arise during the testing process.
3. Make sure to explain that they are not being tested.
Lastly, I’d like to emphasize the importance of making it clear to participants that during usability testing, we are evaluating the product, not them personally. This is especially crucial when testing technology products like apps or smartphone features. Some participants may feel defensive, especially if they are not very familiar with technology or have limited experience with it. It’s natural for people to want to appear competent in front of others, and this can be a common occurrence, especially when conducting usability testing with older adults.
To ensure a successful testing session, it’s essential to encourage participants to explore everything according to the tasks given. Additionally, we should provide tasks that are easy to remember and not too lengthy. This way, participants can focus on the testing process without feeling overwhelmed or forgetting what to do.
By creating a supportive and non-judgmental environment, we can gather valuable feedback and insights from participants, leading to improvements in the product’s usability and user experience.
Are you a researcher, product designer, or product manager about to conduct research with middle-aged and older adults? If so, I’d love to hear about your experiences! If you’re interested in more detailed guidance, I highly recommend checking out the Nielsen Norman Link. It’s an excellent resource that I personally use as my guide for conducting research with older adults. Happy researching!
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