The influence of age in usability testing
Abstract
The effects of age in usability testing were examined in an experiment. Sixty users from two age groups (M = 23.0 yrs, M = 58.1 yrs) operated two technical devices (keyboard-based and touchscreen-based smartphones). In addition to various performance measures (e.g. task completion time, task completion rate), several subjective measures were taken (e.g. perceived usability, affect, and workload). The results showed better performance scores for younger adults than older adults for task completion time. For older adult users there was a mismatch between usability ratings and task completion time but not between usability ratings and task completion rate. Age-related differences in the importance of speed and accuracy in task completion point to the need to consider more strongly the factor user age in usability research and practice.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
On usability tests, elderly users face a greater number of usability problems than young users.
“On usability tests, elderly users face a greater number of usability problems than young users [29,30,31]”
From Designing ICTs for Users with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Usability Study (2020) · cites this paper as [29]
Cites
Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales.
Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.54.6.1063 · Cited by 32,433 · see citing works
Development of NASA-TLX (Task Load Index): Results of Empirical and Theoretical Research
(1988) · Advances in Psychology · doi:10.1016/s0166-4115(08)62386-9 · Cited by 15,003 · see citing works
Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Part 1
Prensky, M. (2001) · On the Horizon · doi:10.1108/10748120110424816 · Cited by 11,104 · see citing works
(1993) · Cited by 9,879 · see citing works
Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants
(2012) · Corwin Press eBooks · doi:10.4135/9781483387765.n6 · Cited by 7,114 · see citing works
(1993) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/c2009-0-21512-1 · Cited by 5,533 · see citing works
Engineering Psychology and Human Performance
Wickens, C. D., Hollands, J. G., Banbury, S. P., & Parasuraman, R. (2015) · Psychology Press eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781315665177 · Cited by 4,998 · see citing works
Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Part 2: Do They Really Think Differently?
Prensky, M. (2001) · On the Horizon · doi:10.1108/10748120110424843 · Cited by 4,035 · see citing works
Normal personality assessment in clinical practice: the NEO personality inventory
Costa, P. T., & McCrae, R. R. (1992) · Psychological Assessment · doi:10.1037/1040-3590.4.1.5 · Cited by 3,414 · see citing works
The ‘digital natives’ debate: A critical review of the evidence
Bennett, S., Maton, K., & Kervin, L. (2008) · British Journal of Educational Technology · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8535.2007.00793.x · Cited by 2,971 · see citing works
Microcomputer Playfulness: Development of a Measure With Workplace Implications
Webster, J., & Martocchio, J. J. (1992) · MIS Quarterly · doi:10.2307/249576 · Cited by 1,107 · see citing works
Framework of product experience
Desmet, P., & Hekkert, P. (2007) · Research Repository (Delft University of Technology) · Cited by 1,034 · see citing works
Assessing computer anxiety: Development and validation of the Computer Anxiety Rating Scale
HEINSSEN, R. K., Glass, C. R., & Knight, L. A. (1987) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/0747-5632(87)90010-0 · Cited by 780 · see citing works
Jordan, P. W. (2020) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/9781003062769 · Cited by 715 · see citing works
Frøkjær, E., Hertzum, M., & Hornbæk, K. (2000) · CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/332040.332455 · Cited by 654 · see citing works
Usability, aesthetics and emotions in human–technology interaction
Thüring, M., & Mahlke, S. (2007) · International Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1080/00207590701396674 · Cited by 624 · see citing works
Untersuchungen mit einer deutschen Version der "Positive and Negative Affect Schedule" (PANAS).
Krohne, H. W., Egloff, B., Kohlmann, C., & Tausch, A. (1996) · Diagnostica · Cited by 609 · see citing works
Text Entry for Mobile Computing: Models and Methods, Theory and Practice
MacKenzie, I. S., & Soukoreff, R. W. (2002) · Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1207/s15327051hci172&3_2 · Cited by 571 · see citing works
The impact of aging on access to technology
Czaja, S. J., & Lee, C. C. (2007) · Universal Access in the Information Society · doi:10.1007/s10209-006-0060-x · Cited by 560 · see citing works
Effects of age and skill in typing.
Salthouse, T. A. (1984) · Journal of Experimental Psychology General · doi:10.1037/0096-3445.113.3.345 · Cited by 548 · see citing works
Human Performance: Cognition, Stress and Individual Differences
Matthews, G. (2000) · Cited by 490 · see citing works
Computer anxiety and its correlates: a meta-analysis
Chua, S. L., Chen, D.-T., & Wong, A. F. L. (1999) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/s0747-5632(99)00039-4 · Cited by 477 · see citing works
Nielsen, J., & Levy, J. L. (1994) · Communications of the ACM · doi:10.1145/175276.175282 · Cited by 461 · see citing works
Making computers easier for older adults to use: area cursors and sticky icons
Worden, A., Walker, N., Bharat, K., & Hudson, S. (1997) · Proceedings of the ACM SIGCHI Conference on Human factors in computing systems · doi:10.1145/258549.258724 · Cited by 376 · see citing works
Older people and mobile phones: A multi-method investigation
Kurniawan, S. (2008) · International Journal of Human-Computer Studies · doi:10.1016/j.ijhcs.2008.03.002 · Cited by 357 · see citing works
Dissociation of Performance and Subjective Measures of Workload
Yeh, Y., & Wickens, C. D. (1988) · Human Factors The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society · doi:10.1177/001872088803000110 · Cited by 352 · see citing works
Entwicklung und Validierung einer Kurzskala zur Erfassung von Technikbereitschaft
Neyer, F. J., Felber, J., & Gebhardt, C. (2012) · Diagnostica · doi:10.1026/0012-1924/a000067 · Cited by 320 · see citing works
Age Differences in Computer Anxiety: The Role of Computer Experience, Gender and Education
Dyck, J. L., & Smither, J. A.-A. (1994) · Journal of Educational Computing Research · doi:10.2190/e79u-vcrc-el4e-hryv · Cited by 306 · see citing works
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule
Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (2011) · PsycTESTS Dataset · doi:10.1037/t03592-000 · Cited by 287 · see citing works
Meta-analysis of correlations among usability measures
Hornbæk, K., & Law, E. L. (2007) · CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/1240624.1240722 · Cited by 276 · see citing works
Aging and Speed of Behavior: Possible Consequences for Psychological Functioning
Birren, J. E., & Fisher, L. M. (1995) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev.ps.46.020195.001553 · Cited by 268 · see citing works
Aging, Motor Control, and the Performance of Computer Mouse Tasks
Smith, M. W., Sharit, J., & Czaja, S. J. (1999) · Human Factors The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society · doi:10.1518/001872099779611102 · Cited by 260 · see citing works
The Speed-Accuracy Tradeoff in the Elderly Brain: A Structural Model-Based Approach
Forstmann, B. U., Tittgemeyer, M., Wagenmakers, E., Derrfuß, J., Imperati, D., & Brown, S. D. (2011) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.0309-11.2011 · Cited by 252 · see citing works
Influence of Direct Computer Experience on Older Adults' Attitudes Toward Computers
Jay, G., & Willis, S. L. (1992) · Journal of Gerontology · doi:10.1093/geronj/47.4.p250 · Cited by 230 · see citing works
The performance of touch screen soft buttons
Lee, S., & Zhai, S. (2009) · Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/1518701.1518750 · Cited by 226 · see citing works
Adult age and the speed-accuracy trade-off
Salthouse, T. A. (1979) · Ergonomics · doi:10.1080/00140137908924659 · Cited by 223 · see citing works
How old and young subjects monitor and control responses for accuracy and speed
Rabbitt, P. (1979) · British Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1111/j.2044-8295.1979.tb01687.x · Cited by 209 · see citing works
What Students Want: Generation Y and the Changing Function of the Academic Library
Gardner, S., & Eng, S. (2005) · portal Libraries and the Academy · doi:10.1353/pla.2005.0034 · Cited by 204 · see citing works
Touch Screen User Interfaces for Older Adults: Button Size and Spacing
Jin, Z. X., Plocher, T., & Kiff, L. M. (2007) · Lecture notes in computer science · doi:10.1007/978-3-540-73279-2_104 · Cited by 200 · see citing works
The role of context in perceptions of the aesthetics of web pages over time
van Schaik, P., & Ling, J. (2008) · International Journal of Human-Computer Studies · doi:10.1016/j.ijhcs.2008.09.012 · Cited by 187 · see citing works
Colle, H. A., & Hiszem, K. J. (2004) · Ergonomics · doi:10.1080/00140130410001724228 · Cited by 185 · see citing works
Chadwick-Dias, A., McNulty, M., & Tullis, T. (2002) · doi:10.1145/957205.957212 · Cited by 163 · see citing works
Elias, S. M., Smith, W. L., & Barney, C. E. (2010) · Behaviour and Information Technology · doi:10.1080/0144929x.2010.513419 · Cited by 156 · see citing works
Computer anxiety: A cross-cultural comparison of university students in ten countries
Rosen, L. D., & Weil, M. M. (1995) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/0747-5632(94)00021-9 · Cited by 154 · see citing works
Moshagen, M., Musch, J., & Göritz, A. S. (2009) · Ergonomics · doi:10.1080/00140130903061717 · Cited by 152 · see citing works
Kolikant, Y. B. (2010) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2010.04.012 · Cited by 150 · see citing works
Touch Screens for the Older User
Caprani, N., Noel, E. O., & Gurri, C. (2012) · InTech eBooks · doi:10.5772/38302 · Cited by 137 · see citing works
Influence of Task Demand Characteristics on Workload and Performance
Hancock, P. A., Williams, G., & Manning, C. (1995) · International Journal of Aviation Psychology · doi:10.1207/s15327108ijap0501_5 · Cited by 128 · see citing works
Age-related differences in the motoric aspects of transcription typing skill.
Bosman, E. A. (1993) · Psychology and Aging · doi:10.1037/0882-7974.8.1.87 · Cited by 124 · see citing works
Hanson, V. L. (2009) · International Web for All Conference (W4A) · doi:10.1145/1535654.1535658 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
A systematic approach to the development of research-based web design guidelines for older people
Zaphiris, P., Kurniawan, S., & Ghiawadwala, M. (2007) · Universal Access in the Information Society · doi:10.1007/s10209-006-0054-8 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
Slowness and age: Speed-accuracy mechanisms.
Smith, G. A., & Brewer, N. (1995) · Psychology and Aging · doi:10.1037/0882-7974.10.2.238 · Cited by 118 · see citing works
NEO-FFI : NEO-Fünf-Faktoren-Inventar nach Costa und McCrae, Manual
Borkenau, P., & Ostendorf, F. (2008) · PUB – Publications at Bielefeld University (Bielefeld University) · Cited by 115 · see citing works
Horrey, W. J., Lesch, M. F., & Garabet, A. (2009) · Journal of Safety Research · doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2008.10.011 · Cited by 113 · see citing works
Usability of Health Web Sites for Older Adults
Nahm, E., Preece, J., Resnick, B. M., & Mills, M. E. (2004) · CIN Computers Informatics Nursing · doi:10.1097/00024665-200411000-00007 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Effect of age and Parkinson's disease on cursor positioning using a mouse
Keates, S., & Trewin, S. (2005) · Proceedings of the 7th international ACM SIGACCESS conference on Computers and accessibility · doi:10.1145/1090785.1090800 · Cited by 100 · cited 2× · see citing works
“The results for perceived workload also showed some dissociation with performance measures, with workload being similar in its pattern to perceived usability.”
BackgroundResultTechnophobia and personality subtypes in a sample of South African university students
Anthony, L. M., Clarke, M. C., & Anderson, S. (2000) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/s0747-5632(99)00050-3 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Review Study of Computer Input Devices and Older Users
Taveira, A. D., & Choi, S. D. (2009) · International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1080/10447310902865040 · Cited by 94 · see citing works
Text entry on handheld computers by older users
Wright, P., Bartram, C., Rogers, N., Emslie, H. C., Evans, J. J., Wilson, B. A., & Belt, S. (2000) · Ergonomics · doi:10.1080/001401300404689 · Cited by 90 · see citing works
Movement specification time with age
Stelmach, G. E., Goggin, N. L., & Garcia-Colera, A. (1987) · Experimental Aging Research · doi:10.1080/03610738708259298 · Cited by 87 · see citing works
Rogers, W. A., Stronge, A. J., & Fisk, A. D. (2005) · Reviews of Human Factors and Ergonomics · doi:10.1518/155723405783703028 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
How Age Affects Pointing With Mouse and Touchpad: A Comparison of Young, Adult, and Elderly Users
Hertzum, M., & Hornbæk, K. (2010) · International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1080/10447318.2010.487198 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
Cognitive Load in eCommerce Applications—Measurement and Effects on User Satisfaction
Schmutz, P., Heinz, S., Métrailler, Y. A., & Opwis, K. (2009) · Advances in Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1155/2009/121494 · Cited by 75 · see citing works
Age-Sensitive Design of Online Health Information: Comparative Usability Study
Pak, R., Price, M. M., & Thatcher, J. B. (2009) · Journal of Medical Internet Research · doi:10.2196/jmir.1220 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Usability evaluation of numeric entry tasks on keypad type and age
Chung, M. K., Kim, D.-J., Na, S., & Lee, D. (2009) · International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics · doi:10.1016/j.ergon.2009.08.001 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
Causes of dissociation between subjective workload measures and performance
Vidulich, M. A., & Wickens, C. D. (1986) · Applied Ergonomics · doi:10.1016/0003-6870(86)90132-8 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
Desktop virtual environments: A study of navigation and age
Sayers, H. (2004) · Interacting with Computers · doi:10.1016/j.intcom.2004.05.003 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Jacko, J. A., Barreto, A. B., Marmet, G. J., Chu, J. Y. M., Bautsch, H. S., Scott, I. U., & Rosa, R. H. (2000) · International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS) · doi:10.1145/354324.354327 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Sonderegger, A., & Sauer, J. (2009) · Ergonomics · doi:10.1080/00140130903067797 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Self-citationArmbrüster, C., Sutter, C., & Ziefle, M. (2007) · Ergonomics · doi:10.1080/00140130601127885 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Chadwick-Dias, A., McNulty, M., & Tullis, T. (2002) · ACM SIGCAPH Computers and the Physically Handicapped · doi:10.1145/960201.957212 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Designing Touch Screen Numeric Keypads: Effects of Finger Size, Key Size, and Key Spacing
Scott, B. M., & Conzola, V. C. (1997) · Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting · doi:10.1177/107118139704100180 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
The role of spatial abilities and age in performance in an auditory computer navigation task
Pak, R., Czaja, S., Sharit, J., Rogers, W., & Fisk, A. (2008) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2008.05.010 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
NEO-Fünf-Faktoren-Inventar nach Costa und McCrae (NEO-FFI)
Kanning, U. P. (2009) · Zeitschrift für Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie A&O · doi:10.1026/0932-4089.53.4.194 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Adaptive training interfaces for less-experienced, elderly users of electronic devices
Bruder, C., Blessing, L. T. M., & Wandke, H. (2013) · Behaviour and Information Technology · doi:10.1080/0144929x.2013.833649 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Schedlbauer, M. J. (2007) · Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting · doi:10.1177/154193120705100501 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Sonderegger, A., Sauer, J., & Eichenberger, J. (2013) · Behaviour and Information Technology · doi:10.1080/0144929x.2013.853835 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Self-citationOn the assessment of (mental) workload and other subjective qualifications
Brookhuis, K., & de Waard, D. (2002) · Ergonomics · doi:10.1080/00140130210166799 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Motivation, Capacity, Learning and Age
Welford, A. T. (1976) · The International Journal of Aging and Human Development · doi:10.2190/9477-xqe6-q52u-758j · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Kroemer, K. H. E. (2005) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/9780203025246 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Cheein, F. A. (2012) · InTech eBooks · doi:10.5772/1089 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Input devices for web browsing: age and hand effects
Jastrzembski, T. S., Charness, N. H., Holley, P. E., & Feddon, J. (2005) · Universal Access in the Information Society · doi:10.1007/s10209-003-0083-5 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Reducing Stress Associated with Participating in a Usability Test
Schrier, J. R. (1992) · Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting · doi:10.1177/154193129203601606 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Piqueras‐Fiszman, B., Ares, G., Alcaide-Marzal, J., & Diego-Más, J. A. (2010) · Journal of Sensory Studies · doi:10.1111/j.1745-459x.2010.00315.x · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Fezzani, K., Albinet, C. T., Thon, B., & Marquié, J.-C. (2008) · Behaviour and Information Technology · doi:10.1080/01449290701825139 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Proceedings on the 2000 conference on Universal Usability - CUU '00
(2000) · doi:10.1145/355460 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Touchscreen Interfaces for Alphanumeric Data Entry
Plaisant, C., & Sears, A. (1992) · Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting · doi:10.1177/154193129203600407 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Modeling web-based information seeking by users who are blind
Brunsman-Johnson, C., Narayanan, S., Shebilske, W., Alakke, G., & Narakesari, S. (2011) · Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology · doi:10.3109/17483107.2010.549897 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Web accessibility for older adults
Petrie, H., Kamollimsakul, S., & Power, C. (2013) · International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS) · doi:10.1145/2513383.2513414 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Castilla, D., Botella, C., Miralles, I., Bretón-López, J., Dragomir-Davis, A. M., Zaragoza, I., & Garcia-Palacios, A. (2018) · International Journal of Human-Computer Studies · doi:10.1016/j.ijhcs.2018.05.009 · Cited by 159 · see citing works
Gunter, R., Fernandes-Taylor, S., Mahnke, A., Awoyinka, L., Schroeder, C., Wiseman, J., Sullivan, S., Bennett, K., Greenberg, C., & Kent, K. C. (2016) · JMIR mHealth and uHealth · doi:10.2196/mhealth.6023 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Designing ICTs for Users with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Usability Study
Castilla, D., Suso-Ribera, C., Zaragoza, I., Garcia-Palacios, A., & Botella, C. (2020) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph17145153 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Huang, H., Yang, M., Yang, C., & Lv, T. (2019) · Applied Ergonomics · doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2019.02.006 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Technological Interventions for Pain Management
Suso-Ribera, C., Castilla, D., Martínez-Borba, V., Jaén, I., Botella, C., Baños, R. M., & García-Palacios, A. (2022) · Comprehensive Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-818697-8.00009-1 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
- Authors
- Sonderegger, A., Schmutz, S., & Sauer, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Fribourg (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Sonderegger, Andreas
- Venue
- Applied Ergonomics
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-01
- Volume
- 52
- Pages
- 291-300
- ISSN
- 0003-6870 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1475532724
- Cited by
- 152
- References
- 90
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 32.16
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Applied Ergonomics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Demography › Technology Use by Older Adults
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Usability and User Interface Design
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Keywords
- age differences, older adults, usability testing, task completion time, task completion rate, perceived usability, workload, affect, smartphone interaction, touchscreen devices, speed-accuracy trade-off
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Affect, Age Factors, Aged, Equipment Design, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Psychomotor Performance, Task Performance and Analysis, User-Computer Interface, Workload, Young Adult
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review