Limitations of the NZ Boomer Dreams Study 2009

Limitations of the NZ Boomer Dreams Study 2009

No one research study can be universal - all have limitations, and this study is no exception.

This study measures the aspirations and stated intentions of New Zealand-resident baby boomers who have access to the internet. It does not purport to represent their actual behaviours. It presents a possible picture of how the target population would like to think their future will transpire, but does not measure any potential gaps between those desires and likely actual behaviour.

Excluded from the study are New Zealand baby boomers who do not currently have internet access, who form 11.4% of the baby boomer population. This study cannot be weighted to represent non-internet users as there are too many unknown characteristics likely to affect responses (for example, the impact of income level on both internet use and retirement choices).

Maori are underrepresented in the study in numbers too small to weight and, as with non-internet users; there are too many unknown characteristics likely to affect responses (for example, the impact of cultural perspectives and priorities on retirement choices).

Excluded from the study are the views of non-resident New Zealanders, who are currently estimated to number in the hundreds of thousands – there is no research into whether any of these citizens intend returning to their country of birth after they have enjoyed careers in other countries, and what their further work/life intentions might be if they do.

Excluded from the study are the views of other New Zealanders who were not born between 1946 and 1964. There is no measurement of whether the views of New Zealand baby boomers are different from the views of the whole population, or whether they are the prevailing social views of the day, and widely shared. There is research evidence that the views of baby boomers differ from those of predecessor generations in New Zealand and there is overseas research evidence to support the view that the behaviour of baby boomers generally differs from the rest of the population, however.

Excluded from the survey are the reactions of other sectors of the population to the stated intentions of baby boomers. While many boomers say they do not want to retire in the historic meaning of that word, younger generations of workers may react adversely to any perception of older workers staying in high paying jobs or “cherry picking” the most interesting projects. There is already some intergenerational conflict developing, as evidenced by books such as “Please just f* off: it’s our turn now” (Pluto Press, 2006) by 25-year-old Australian, Heath Ryan.