Suggestions regarding the relationship between daily information-seeking habits and the formation of ageism
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47989/ir31iConf64169Keywords:
Information seeking, Ageism, Covariance structure analysisAbstract
Introduction. Various previous studies have suggested a relationship between information-seeking preferences and ageism. However, the mechanisms and processes underlying the relationship between information preference and ageism have not been explored. Moreover, both of the aforementioned studies assumed the provision of accurate information and knowledge. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether people’s information-seeking preferences affect ageism and to examine the mechanisms underlying this effect.
Method. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 154 undergraduate students enrolled at national universities in Japan.
Analysis. A covariance structure analysis was conducted to test whether information-seeking preferences affect ageism.
Results. The factors of information-seeking preferences were related to ageism. Among the factors of ageism, antilocution and discrimination were particularly affected.
Conclusion(s). While the Internet facilitates interaction with people of different generations and values, it has also been suggested that information-seeking preferences can reinforce ideological inclinations. This study shows that information-seeking behaviour can inhibit ageism, but also indicates that individuals may be more prone to ageist attitudes when relying on people as information sources.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Masaki Takeda; Satoru Suto
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