Catalog Description
Survey research on the use and effects of information and communication technologies across the lifespan, from early childhood to older adulthood. In addition to substantive findings and implications, discussions will explore methodological considerations for studying different age groups (e.g., participant recruitment) and theoretical perspectives on lifespan development relevant to media use.
Instructor Description
The use of information and communication technologies varies considerably across the lifespan. People of different ages differ not only in the platforms, mediums, and content they engage with (and are targeted by), but also in their motivations, goals, psychological characteristics, and digital literacies. Questions about media’s effects on different age groups are central to both scholarly research and policymaking (e.g., debates over banning smartphones in schools). Indeed, scholars across disciplines–including Information, Communication, Computer Science, Psychology, Education, and Gerontology–have studied the use of media among different age groups (e.g., children, older adults). However, this research has largely been conducted in silos due to disciplinary boundaries and varying topics of inquiry. This course aims to survey the broad landscape of research on the use of information and communication technologies across the lifespan, bridging disciplinary perspectives and topics. In doing so, we will integrate theoretical perspectives on lifespan development to understand how users of different ages experience media technologies. Discussions will also explore methodological considerations for conducting research on different age groups (e.g., participant recruitment).