evaluation and an affective state. We consider e-empowerment as defined by Amichai-Hamburger (2008) as the process by which enabling technology empowers individuals to do things that they previously found to be difficult. As well as considering e-empowerment to be related to Table 2: Development of empowerment measurement items Empowerment Measurement item Illustrative quote from Focus aspect Groups I have access to more information on my “I have got the information there. pension. And I feel empowered if you like” Information access I am better informed about pensions in general. I have a better understanding of how my of the reasons I feel “One own pension works. empowered with the internet, it is very useful all these search I know how much my pension is worth. engines, these comparative ones that compare prices … if one Improved I am taking more of an interest in my own searches through several then understanding pension. you feel this greater knowledge and you are better equipped as a I feel more confused about pensions. consumer” (reverse coded) I feel more confident about making my “I think it is about having enough own pension decisions. information to be able to make those decisions for yourself” I feel more confident in my ability to make enquiries about my pension think a key it is “I control’s … more than acquisition of greater Autonomous I feel less of a need to rely on the advice of knowledge” decision-making financial experts/advisors think it cuts out the middleman “I I have more control over my own pension. now we can get the … information whilst searching I have more control than I want (reverse around on Google so you … coded) need a financial advisor, don’t you can do it all yourself, if you have got the ability and the time. To me that is empowerment”
evaluation and an affective state. We consider e-empowerment as defined by Amichai-Hamburger (2008) as the process by which enabling technology empowers individuals to do things that they previously found to be difficult. As well as considering e-empowerment to be related to Table 2: Development of empowerment measurement items Empowerment aspect Measurement item Illustrative quote from Focus Groups Information access I have access to more information on my pension. I am better informed about pensions in general. “I have got the information there. And I feel empowered if you like” Improved understanding I have a better understanding of how my own pension works. I know how much my pension is worth. I am taking more of an interest in my own pension. I feel more confused about pensions. (reverse coded) “One of the reasons I feel empowered with the internet, it is very useful all these search engines, these comparative ones that compare prices … if one searches through several then you feel this greater knowledge and you are better equipped as a consumer” Autonomous decision-making I feel more confident about making my own pension decisions. I feel more confident in my ability to make enquiries about my pension I feel less of a need to rely on the advice of financial experts/advisors I have more control over my own pension. I have more control than I want (reverse coded) “I think it is about having enough information to be able to make those decisions for yourself” “I think control’s a key … it is more than acquisition of greater knowledge” “I think it cuts out the middleman … now we can get the information whilst searching around on Google … so you don’t need a financial advisor, you can do it all yourself, if you have got the ability and the time. To me that is empowerment”
Harrison_and_Waite_2016.docx