The Persuasive Effect of Fox News: Non-Compliance with Social Distancing During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Simonov, Andrey; Sacher, Szymon; Dubé, Jean-Pierre; Biswas, Shirsho

doi:10.2139/ssrn.3600088

Cited by 59 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 86 publications

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“…Approaches might include fostering trust in science, identifying ways for citizens to participate in research, and improving science communication (Boele-Woelki et al, 2018), community engagement (Pham, 2016; also see Wynne, 2006, for critical analysis), and the adoption of open-science practices (Funk and Kennedy, 2019;Grand et al, 2012). This will be particularly important in situations where attacks on scientific expertise by segments of the media and political actors are commonplace and contribute to science denial and opposition to evidence-based policy (Bursztyn et al, 2020;Gauchat, 2012;Leiserowitz et al, 2013;Lewandowsky et al, 2016;Lewandowsky and Cook, 2020;Simonov et al, 2020). While a crisis presents an opportunity to build public trust by engaging in honest and transparent communication, as detailed in this paper, trust can also be rapidly lost if the expert is perceived as a political pawn or their credibility is attacked.…”

Section: Pandemic Communications: Foundations and Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Toward effective government communication strategies in the era of COVID-19

Hyland-Wood

Gardner

Leask

et al. 2021

Humanit Soc Sci Commun

303

194

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Several countries have successfully reduced their COVID-19 infection rate early, while others have been overwhelmed. The reasons for the differences are complex, but response efficacy has in part depended on the speed and scale of governmental intervention and how communities have received, perceived, and acted on the information provided by governments and other agencies. While there is no ‘one size fits all’ communications strategy to deliver information during a prolonged crisis, in this article, we draw on key findings from scholarship in multiple social science disciplines to highlight some fundamental characteristics of effective governmental crisis communication. We then present ten recommendations for effective communication strategies to engender maximum support and participation. We argue that an effective communication strategy is a two-way process that involves clear messages, delivered via appropriate platforms, tailored for diverse audiences, and shared by trusted people. Ultimately, the long-term success depends on developing and maintaining public trust. We outline how government policymakers can engender widespread public support and participation through increased and ongoing community engagement. We argue that a diversity of community groups must be included in engagement activities. We also highlight the implications of emerging digital technologies in communication and engagement activities.

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Section: Pandemic Communications: Foundations and Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Toward effective government communication strategies in the era of COVID-19

Hyland-Wood

Gardner

Leask

et al. 2021

Humanit Soc Sci Commun

303

194

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Perceived severity was also indicated by the number of media sources of information people used to learn about COVID-19 in the past 7 days. While different sources of media and public health agents may deliver different messages about severity and recommended responses to the pandemic (Ash, Galletta, Hangartner, Margalit, & Pinna, 2020 ; Simonov, Sacher, Dubé, & Biswas, 2020 ), we assume that the more sources they accessed, the more severe they perceived the pandemic to be. The 10 sources we used include ABC news, CBS news, CNN, Fox news, MSNBC news, NBC news, national newspapers such as the New York Times, Washington Post, and USA Today, local newspapers, public television and radio, and local TV news.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Age differences in the relationship between threatening and coping mechanisms and preventive behaviors in the time of COVID-19 in the United States: Protection Motivation Theory

Kim

Crimmins

2021

ResPsy

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It is important to understand the factors motivating people to adopt recommended behavioral changes in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and how they differ for younger and older adults. Using a nationally representative sample from the Understanding America Study (3/10-3/31/2020), we assessed how four cognitive mediators affected uptake of protective activities for younger (aged 18-34) and older adults (aged 65+) during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Confirmatory factor analysis based on Protective Motivation Theory demonstrated associations between our observed variables and the latent constructs: perceived severity and susceptibility, and response efficacy and self-efficacy. Among younger adults, coping appraisal such as perceptions of effectiveness of behaviors in protecting them from coronavirus and belief in their ability to perform recommended changes led them to adopt preventive behaviors; for older people, threat appraisal such as perception of severity was associated with behavioral responses. Younger people may rely more on their assessment of coping resources and effectiveness in their response to COVID-19; while older people base their behavioral responses on their perception of the severity of the situation, which they appraise using information from media and the severity of the epidemic in their state of residence. Different strategies are required to motivate older and younger people to adopt behavioral modifications, which are critical in reducing further spread of COVID-19.

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“…They suggested that social distancing would play a critical role in controlling a potential pandemic. Currently, the world is experiencing a pandemic called COVID-19, and a call for social distancing is heard around the world to reduce interactions between people to prevent the transmission (Knowles et al, 2020;Patil & Patil, 2020;Simonov et al, 2020;Tucker & Yu, 2020). This social distancing includes the closure of schools or office buildings and suspension of shopping malls, travel restrictions, and gatherings (Wilder-Smith & Freedman, 2020).…”

Section: Social Distancing and Brandingmentioning

confidence: 99%