REPUBLIC OF THE

PHILIPPINES
Department of Education
Region III
Division of City of San Fernando
OUR LADY OF FATIMA
UNIVERSITY
Mc Arthur Highway, San Fernando, 2000 Pampanga

“Technology at its Finest” Baby Boomers

Experiences on the Use of Smartphones: A
Qualitative Study

Submitted By:
Lozano, Jomar
Manabat, Joy
Sabado, Ivan B.
Soliman, Trisha
Songco, Jobern
Tolentino, Amverlanze
Group 1(STEM 11-7R)

Submitted To:
Roselle A. Laureano
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page i

Table of Contents iv

List of Appendices vi

Chapter Page no.

I. THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING Introduction

1
Statement of the Problem 3
Significance of the Study 4
Scope and Delimitation of the Study 4
Definition of Terms 5
II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Baby Boom Generation 6

Baby Boomers Use of Technology 6

Technology 7
III. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Design 8
The Sample 8
Research Instruments 9
Data Collection Procedure 9
Data Analysis 10
References 11
 CHAPTER I

Introduction
Technology sure do plays an unexpectedly huge role in our daily lives which make
us literally surrounded by brand new technology. We use technology on a daily basis to
accomplish specific tasks or interests, without knowing that without that technology we
might get our self in some trouble while doing something. As Nick Ismail said “In the
world today, people cannot live without technologies such as televisions, mobile phones,
computers and others. These technologies have slowly taken an essential part in people’s
day-to-day lives and without them would be unimaginable for some of us”.

The use of technology is increasing day by day, we all depend on technology, and
we use various technologies to accomplish specific tasks in our lives. Today we have
various emerging technologies that impact our lives in different ways. Technology is being
implemented in almost every aspect of our lives and business function. So embracing it
and learning how to use technology in whatever we do is very important and
recommended.

As the world keeps on developing, technology will change, what is working today
might not work tomorrow. So it is better to stay up-to-date with new emerging technologies
and learn how to embrace and use them in your daily life. Due to our unending needs in
innovation, Innovators create new technology after another and another to provide us our
necessities in our daily task, for instance, in our daily work at home instead of just cleaning
our clothes bare-hand we now have an electronic washing machine for doing our clothes
and to give us the convenience we want in accessing information freely like what we have
now Facebook, messenger and etc. which help us to give and take information from
someone we know, which leads us to say that “Our Technology is at its Finest”

Our modern technology really does have an important role in our daily lives, but it
seems like we consume most of our time in using technology like smartphones and ending
up doing nothing. Instead of using technology as a helping hand in our daily task it became
a distraction in doing our task. For instance, you were given a certain task instead of just
finishing and wrapping it up immediately you chose to check your social media account
first. Peoples lost their own productivity because they were too dependent in our modern
technology. Which makes us wonder, how does the generation of baby boomer (ages 55
years old and up) cope up in this advent of modern technology innovation. Do they go with
the flow by using our modern technology or do they just let the youngster to enjoy our
modern technology.

The emerging technologies impact our way of livings in different ways regardless
of age. If technology is properly used, it can make betterment to one's life, but if it is
improperly used, it causes severity to human beings. The impact of technology that we may
not realize is related to young adult especially underage children. The main problem
identified is the excessive usage of technology can impact children negatively. It is a real
life problem because firstly, parents have no idea what level of screen time is appropriate
for children and secondly, the children's interaction with technology is inadequately
control. The impact arises from the excessive usage of technology could be hindered if we
could be informed about the severity of technology usage among children.

Baby Boomers are those people who were born after the World War II between
1946 and 1964. The post-World War II period was known as the “boom.” Most Baby
Boomers are currently in their 60s and 70s and have either retired or are soon retiring. By
extension, the Baby Boomers may also include those aged 50 and above. The lack of tech
savviness in Baby Boomers is not intentional. It is attributed to the slow advancement in
technology during the 1970s, the 80s, and 90s. During this time, most Baby Boomers were
in school, raising families, and curving their career niches. The technological advancement
at the time was slow. Today, technology changes at the blink of an eye which makes it
difficult for Baby Boomers to catch up. Nevertheless, statistics show that the Baby
Boomers are making strides in their effort to adapt to the use of modern technology.

Information technology has been changing daily and has been an important mode
to access and retrieve information. Desktop computer ownership has been decreasing as
laptops and other mobile devices to access and retrieve information have been increasing
dramatically. Baby Boomers have diverse characteristics. Some Baby Boomers have been
exposed to information technologies while others have little or no training with
computerized systems. In addition, age related changes, such as physical or cognitive
issues, could affect some Baby Boomers and their interactions with information
technology.

The purpose of this narrative study will be to understand the different perspectives
and experience of the generation of Baby Boomers (ages 55 years old and up) on the use
of our unstoppable innovation in the means of technology at the surroundings of San
Fernando, Pampanga. At this stage in the research, the different perspectives and
experiences of generation of Baby Boomers on the use of our modern means of technology
at San Fernando, Pampanga will be generally defined as on how they use technology in
every day’s task and will be defined on how does the generation of Baby Boomers cope up
in this advent of technology innovation of ours. This research will help us students to
increasingly widen our own perspective on the fast moving technology and to help the
generation of Baby Boomers to be inform in this modern means of technology.

Baby Boomers are characterized as being technophobes who are slow to adopt new
technology and when they do, they struggle to understand how to use it. This paper aimed
to uncover whether Baby Boomers have embraced mobile phone technology and, if not,
their reasons why. It sought to provide an understanding of mobile phone use among
Australia's ageing population, and the ways they are using and interpreting this technology.
The research was conducted using a combination of face-to-face interviews and an online
survey. The results indicated that although Baby Boomers' general uptake of mobile phone
technology was high, they have a limited use and understanding of functions beyond voice
calls and SMS. With Baby Boomer demographics and consumer spending expected to
dominate in years to come, the findings support the need for further investigation into
handset design, marketing approaches and sales techniques which are tailored to this
lucrative market.

Statement of the Problem

The focus of this study is to explore and understand the line of experience of the generation
of Baby Boomers that experience the use of mobile phones in the advent of modern
technology, specifically, the impacts of it to their everyday life as part of the generation of
Baby Boomers.
It further aims to answer the following questions:

1. What are the reasons, why Baby Boomers are using technology?
2. How do you compare your younger year’s technology and this present advent of
modern technology?
3. What are the problems encountered by Baby Boomers on the use of technology?
4. How do Baby Boomers cope up with this advent of modern technology?
5. What is it like to be a Baby Boomers in the advent of technology?

Significance of the Study

This study on “Technology on its Finest” Baby Boomers Experience on the Use of
Smartphones will contribute to the view in the field of technology. Specifically, the findings
of the study will help the Technology Experts to know the experience and perspective of
Baby Boomers on the technology nowadays. This will also encourage Technology
Professionals to create a technology that suits for the Baby Boomers for them to easily
adapt to our modern technology.

Similarly, most Veteran Teachers are usually at the range of 50-60 years old, our
modern technology greatly help most of our Veteran Teachers they use technology as a
huge helping hand in their teaching strategy. This research is beneficial and will help most
of the veteran teachers in increasing their views and perspective on the different use of
Baby Boomers on smartphones

In addition, Information Technology graduates will be enlightened on the effects

and importance of knowing or being aware of the lived experiences of Baby Boomers on
the technology nowadays. This can improve the quality of knowledge of Information
Technology Professional by giving them opinion that can develop or change the technology
based on the demands that meets the needs and wants of Baby Boomers.

Finally, future researcher may find the result of this study important, and they may
definitely look at the other aspect of education in relation to the topic on hand.

Scope and Delimitation

 The researcher aimed to fully understand the lined experience of Baby Boomers,
the reason behind it and the problem encounter by using smartphones. The researcher
targeted a number of 10 members of generation of Baby Boomers who lived around the
City of San Fernando, Pampanga. The subject will be five active teachers from different
schools and five elders who retired from work. This study will be conducted on the fourth
grading period, specifically from the month of February to the last week of March this year
2019. The researcher will be focusing on the lived experience of Baby Boomers in this
advent of modern technology, how they cope up with it and their perspective about it.

Definition of Terms

The following are defined terms which will be used in the study.

 Baby Boomers- a person born in the years following World War II, when there
was a temporary marked increase in the birth rate.
 Smartphones- a mobile phone that performs many of the functions of a computer,
typically having a touchscreen interface, Internet access, and an operating system
capable of running downloaded applications.
 Technology- the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes,
especially in industry.
 Purposive Sampling Technique- the application of scientific knowledge for
practical purposes, especially in industry.
 CHAPTER II

Review of Related Literature

This chapter of our study presents related literature and studies which will be used to
support the research study. It focuses mainly on studies in relation with the use of
technology, its causes and effect on Baby Boom Generation.

Baby Boom Generation

Baby Boomers emerged after the end of World War II, when birth rates across the
world spiked. The explosion of new infants became known as the Baby Boom. During the
boom, almost 77 million babies were born in the United States alone, comprising nearly
40% of the American population. The population growth created a secondary spurt in the
economy. More people created more consumer demand, triggering an increase in
manufacturing and production. Average incomes rose during these decades, which further
increased demand. This upward spiral created a long-lasting economic boom that raised
the standard of living throughout the country and the developed world.
(https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/baby_boomer.asp)
Most historians say the Baby Boomer phenomenon most likely involved a
combination of factors: people wanting to start the families that they put off during World
War II, a socially encouraged tendency for people to marry at a younger age, and a sense
of confidence that the coming era would be safe and prosperous. Indeed, the late 1940s and
1950s generally saw increases in wages, thriving businesses, and an increase in the variety
and quantity of products for consumers.
According to Will Kenton (2019) Baby Boomer is a term used to describe a person
who was born between 1946 and 1964. The Baby Boomer generation makes up a
substantial portion of the world's population, especially in developed nations: It represents
nearly 20% of the American public. As the largest generational group in U.S., Baby
Boomers have had and continue to have a significant impact on the economy. As a result,
they are often the focus of marketing campaigns and business plans

Baby Boomers Use of Technology

 The use of technology is increasing day by day, we all depend on technology, and
we use various technologies to accomplish specific tasks in our lives. Nevertheless,
statistics show that the Baby Boomers are making strides in their effort to adapt to the use
of modern technology.
The four popular devices used by Baby Boomers today are smartphones, laptops,
desktops, and tablets. According to research undertaken by the American Association of
Retired Persons (AARP), 7 out of 10 Baby Boomers own a smartphone. Additionally, 9
out of 10 people aged 50 and above own either a Personal Computer (PC) or a laptop. As
a percentage, those who own smartphones are 78% of those aged 50-59, 73% of those aged
60-69, and 55% of those aged above 70. On the other hand, the Baby Boomers who own
laptops are 66%, 63%, and 56% of those aged 50-59, 60-69, and above 70 respectively.
Regarding the ownership of desktop computers, 58%, 59%, and 66% of Baby Boomers
aged 50-59, 60-69, and above 70 respectively have desktops. The seniors also own tablets
such that 46% of those aged 50-59, 40% of those aged 60-69, and 40% of those aged above
70 have tablets.
The Baby Boomers use technology to access the internet for news and government
information. Furthermore, they engage in charitable works such as making online
donations. For their pastime, Baby Boomers listen to music and pursue their hobbies
online. Technology also enables the Baby Boomers to keep connected to their family
members and friends. They can chat and call their family members from anywhere in the
world. In the case of any emergencies, the smartphones make it easy for them to receive
assistance as fast as possible. Some technological devices can even trace the users to their
locations. Hence, just like the millennials, most Baby Boomers are now enjoying the
benefits of technology. However, some are yet to adopt the technology.
(https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/technology-usage-by-american-baby-boomers.html)
Technology
Technology is a body of knowledge devoted to creating tools, processing actions
and the extracting of materials. The term ‘Technology” is wide, and everyone has their way
of understanding its meaning. We use technology to accomplish various tasks in our daily
lives, in brief; we can describe technology as products and processes used to simplify our
daily lives. We use technology to extend our abilities, making people the most crucial part
of any technological system. Technology is also an application of science used to solve
problems. But it is vital to know that technology and science are different subjects which
work hand-in-hand to accomplish specific tasks or solve problems.
(https://www.useoftechnology.com/what-is-technology/)

According to Karehka Ramey, we apply technology in almost everything we do in

our daily lives; we use technology at work, we use technology for communication,
transportation, learning, manufacturing, securing data, scaling businesses and so much
more. Technology is human knowledge which involves tools, materials, and systems. The
application of technology typically results in products. If technology is well applied, it
benefits humans, but the opposite is true, if used for malicious reasons.

In conclusion, the generation of Baby Boomers do also use our modern technology
as a part of their everyday task especially in business sense which brings their generation
into compete into business and they also use technology to access the internet for news and
government information. The studies above prove that even though technology from the
time of the generation of Baby Boomers were not that great, they still manage to cope up
in our modern technology and use it to improve their every day task.
 CHAPTER III

Methodology

This chapter consist of the research design, the description of the sample, the
instrument, the procedures used for data collection and the analysis of data which offers a
complete description and analysis of a research subject, without limiting the scope of the
research and the nature of participant’s responses. This chapter details the methods used
for this current study.

Research Design

This study will be using a qualitative type of research. Qualitative researchers

typically studied individuals in a natural setting and would seek understanding or meaning
of the world around them. Susan E. Defranzo (2011) mentioned in her study that qualitative
research is primarily exploratory research. It is used to gain an understanding of underlying
reasons opinions and motivations. It provides insights into the problem or helps to develop
ideas or hypothesis for potential qualitative research.

A phenomenological approach is needed to fully understand the lived experiences

and to provide insight and understanding about Baby Boomers, According to Creswell
(2013), phenomenology is an approach to qualitative research that focuses on the
commonality of a lived experience within a particular group. The fundamental goal of the
approach is to arrive at a description of the nature of the particular phenomenon

The purpose of using a qualitative approach for this exploratory dissertation study
was to gain further knowledge about Baby Boomers. The researcher gave greater detailed
explanations examining why and how certain factors were affecting Baby Boomers
utilizing mobile devices by attaining a richer perspective from the different types of
gathered data. The qualitative methods added richer detail taken from the participant
responses providing a reason why the device was chosen or used over another mobile
device to search for information.
The Sample

The respondents will be chosen accordingly with the use of purposive sampling technique.
Ashley Crossman (2018) said that a purposive sample is a non-probability sample that is
selected based on characteristics of a population and the objective of the study. Purposive
sampling is also known as judgmental, selective, or subjective sampling. The respondents
will be chosen from the surroundings of City of San Fernando, Pampanga with a maximum
of ten (10) participants. They will be purposively chosen whether or if they are using
smartphones and whether they are in the generation of Baby Boomers which ages 55 and
above. In purposive sampling, the researcher would select individuals that would be typical
cases who would provide rich and relevant information to learn more about the research
goals.

The Instrument

The main instrument used for data collection is the Interview Guide Question which
will serve as a guide for the researchers to conduct the semi-structured interview. Alison
Doyle defined a semi-structured interview as a meeting in which the interviewer does not
strictly follow a formalized list of questions. They will ask more open-ended questions,
allowing for a discussion with the interviewee rather than a straightforward question and
answer format. The interviewer may prepare a list of questions but does not necessarily ask
them all, or touch on them in any particular order, using them instead to guide the
conversation. In some cases, the interviewer will prepare only a list of general topics to be
addressed, called an interview guide.

Data Collection Procedures

As this study used a qualitative approach that consisted of interview responses and
field notes. Using multiple kinds of data instruments provided supporting evidence to
develop a theme encompassing the data and presented further finding validity. It is
important to take some preparations such as having a preliminary visits in the respondents.
The researcher plans on having a total of 10 preliminary visits to formally seek of their
approval and ask the date and time they are free and comfortable with. During the
preliminary visit the researcher will inform them about the topic and why they are chosen
to participate in the said interview. The researcher will also seek the approval of the higher
ups of the said participants by sending the some formal letter or formally visit the in their
respective offices. When the respondents are ready to start the study, a face-to-face
interview will start. And the researchers prepared a semi-structured interview guide that
serves as their instrument.

Data Analysis

The information gathered will be analysed through the process of transcribing. In

transcribing the gathered information, the researchers made use of a mobile phones with a
voice recorder. The voice recorded contains the answers of the participants. The
researchers will then listen from the recorded answers of the participants, after listening,
the researchers will then write the answers of the participants word by word by typing or
writing
 References

 Being in the City: A Phenomenological Approach to Technological Experience By Jason

Wasiak

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.cultureunbound.ep.liu.se
/v1/a21/cu09v1a21.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwji5_2nxZ3gAhVFSX0KHYj8A4oQFjACegQIAxAB&u
sg=AOvVaw3gNZCrJLAo3H4wJkYxymvg

 Baby Boomers and Technology: Factors and Challenges in Utilizing Mobile Devices by
Renee Bennett Kapusniak (2015)

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.researchgate.net/publication/313360337_Baby_Boomers_a
nd_Technology_Factors_and_Challenges_in_Utilizing_Mobile_Devices/amp

 Baby Boomers: The Use of Technology to Support Learning by Debaro Huyler and Daniel
Ciocca (2015)

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/cgi/vi
ewcontent.cgi%3Farticle%3D1542%26context%3Dsferc&ved=2ahUKEwi27Prw1p3gAhUNT48
KHZceAh8QFjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw2RtsuWp6uWxkeYBrW6j3Fd

 The Use (and Disuse) of Mobile Phones by Baby Boomers by Baby Boomers (2008)

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.researchgate.net/publication/266471444_The_Use_and_Di
suse_of_Mobile_Phones_by_Baby_Boomers_The_Use_and_Disuse_of_Mobile_Phones_by_Ba
by_Boomers/amp?espv=1

 Modern technology: advantages and disadvantages by Nick Ismail (2017)

https://www.information-age.com/modern-technology-advantages-disadvantages-123465637/

 Baby Boomer by Will Kenton(2019)

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/baby_boomer.asp
  WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY – MEANING OF TECHNOLOGY AND ITS USE By
Karehka Ramey (2013)
https://www.useoftechnology.com/what-is-technology/

 qualitative-vs-quantitative-research by Susan E, Defranzo

https://www.snapsurveys.com/blog/qualitative-vs-quantitative-research/

 Understanding Purposive Sampling by Ashley Crossman

https://www.thoughtco.com/purposive-sampling-3026727

 J.W. Creswell 1998 Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design — Choosing Among Five
Traditions. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks California.