Exploration of Research Trends in Digital Literacy for the Elderly using Topic Modeling

This study aims to investigate trends in research pertaining to digital literacy among the elderly using topic modeling, thereby providing foundational data for discussions on digital literacy research and policy. A total of 927 academic papers and theses related to digital topics for the elderly were collected, resulting in a corpus of 7,595 words. The research materials were categorized into four distinct periods based on the trends in publication frequency concerning elderly digital topics. To gain deeper insights into the research trends during periods of significant increases in studies on elderly digital literacy and the emergence of research explicitly addressing digital literacy, two additional topic modeling analyses were conducted. The findings of these analyses revealed specific themes and critical directions in the discourse surrounding elderly digital literacy research. As interest in enhancing digital literacy among older adults continues to grow, this study may inform policy proposals aimed at increasing technology acceptance and improving information accessibility for this demographic. The results will serve as foundational material for discussions on supporting digital literacy among the elderly and bridging the digital divide.