Understanding the Value of Using Smartphones for Older Adults in China: A Value-Focused Thinking Approach

Abstract

This study aims to explore the values of using smartphones in older adults’ daily lives in China. The value of using smartphones can be seen as the benefits associated with the use of smartphones in peoples’ daily activities. By employing the Value-Focused Thinking (VFT) approach, this study investigates what fundamental objectives and means objectives are important with the daily use of smartphones for older adults in China. Based on the data collected from the interviews, we developed a means-ends objective network describing the values of using smartphones for older adults in China. According to the results, maximizing well-being, maximizing life efficiency, maximizing safety, and maximizing digital inclusion are identified as the fundamental objectives to maximize values of using smartphones for older adults in China.