scholarly journals Communicating Scientific Uncertainty About the COVID-19 Pandemic: Online Experimental Study of an Uncertainty-Normalizing Strategy (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul K J Han ◽  
Elizabeth Scharnetzki ◽  
Aaron M Scherer ◽  
Alistair Thorpe ◽  
Christine Lary ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crisis Communication ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Ambiguity Aversion ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Scientific Uncertainty ◽  
Psychological Responses ◽  
Risk Reducing

BACKGROUND Communicating scientific uncertainty about public health threats such as COVID-19 is an ethically desirable task endorsed by expert guidelines on crisis communication. However, the communication of scientific uncertainty is challenging because of its potential to promote <i>ambiguity aversion</i>—a well-described syndrome of negative psychological responses consisting of heightened risk perceptions, emotional distress, and decision avoidance. Communication strategies that can inform the public about scientific uncertainty while mitigating ambiguity aversion are a critical unmet need. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate whether an “uncertainty-normalizing” communication strategy—aimed at reinforcing the expected nature of scientific uncertainty about the COVID-19 pandemic—can reduce ambiguity aversion, and to compare its effectiveness to conventional public communication strategies aimed at promoting hope and prosocial values. METHODS In an online factorial experiment conducted from May to June 2020, a national sample of 1497 US adults read one of five versions of an informational message describing the nature, transmission, prevention, and treatment of COVID-19; the versions varied in level of expressed scientific uncertainty and supplemental focus (ie, uncertainty-normalizing, hope-promoting, and prosocial). Participants then completed measures of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral manifestations of ambiguity aversion (ie, perceived likelihood of getting COVID-19, COVID-19 worry, and intentions for COVID-19 risk-reducing behaviors and vaccination). Analyses assessed (1) the extent to which communicating uncertainty produced ambiguity-averse psychological responses; (2) the comparative effectiveness of uncertainty-normalizing, hope-promoting, and prosocial communication strategies in reducing ambiguity-averse responses; and (3) potential moderators of the effects of alternative uncertainty communication strategies. RESULTS The communication of scientific uncertainty about the COVID-19 pandemic increased perceived likelihood of getting COVID-19 and worry about COVID-19, consistent with ambiguity aversion. However, it did not affect intentions for risk-reducing behaviors or vaccination. The uncertainty-normalizing strategy reduced these aversive effects of communicating scientific uncertainty, resulting in levels of both perceived likelihood of getting COVID-19 and worry about COVID-19 that did not differ from the control message that did not communicate uncertainty. In contrast, the hope-promoting and prosocial strategies did not decrease ambiguity-averse responses to scientific uncertainty. Age and political affiliation, respectively, moderated the effects of uncertainty communication strategies on intentions for COVID-19 risk-reducing behaviors and worry about COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS Communicating scientific uncertainty about the COVID-19 pandemic produces ambiguity-averse cognitive and emotional, but not behavioral, responses among the general public, and an uncertainty-normalizing communication strategy reduces these responses. Normalizing uncertainty may be an effective strategy for mitigating ambiguity aversion in crisis communication efforts. More research is needed to test uncertainty-normalizing communication strategies and to elucidate the factors that moderate their effectiveness.

scholarly journals Crisis Communication after Earthquakes in Greece and Japan: Effects on Seismic Disaster Management

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 9257
Author(s):  
Anna Fokaefs ◽  
Kalliopi Sapountzaki
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Management ◽  
Crisis Communication ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
Public Trust ◽  
The Public ◽  
Emergency Responses ◽  
Seismic Crisis ◽  
Seismic Disaster

The communication of emergency information shortly before or after the manifestation of seismic hazards is a crucial part of disaster management. Crisis communication aims to protect, support and guide the public and emergency services throughout the response and recovery phase. In the case of seismic events, a fundamental query refers to how the information to be released to the public immediately after/before the seismic event affects disaster impacts and management. This paper addresses the uncertainty involved in emergency seismic information, identifies the sources, means, content and mode of emergency communication and points to the effects of different models of crisis communication on public perceptions, on emergency responses and, hence, on disaster management. A review of past experiences of seismic crisis communication strategies in earthquake-prone countries, namely Greece and Japan, reveals successes and failures in managing uncertainty, and in building public trust and improving response capacities. The findings include the importance of crisis communication in seismic disaster management, the levels/layers of uncertainty involved in emergency seismic information and how they impact risk perceptions, the public trust/mistrust effect on scientific and management institutions as well as some recommendations for seismic crisis communication strategies to minimize uncertainty and improve emergency responses.

scholarly journals Impact of crisis communication strategies on people’s attitudes toward behavioral guidelines regarding COVID-19 and on their trust in local officials

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerrit Hirschfeld ◽  
Meinald Thielsch
Keyword(s):  
Crisis Management ◽  
Crisis Communication ◽  
Communication Theory ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
Exploratory Analysis ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
External Control ◽  
Behavioral Measures ◽  
Local Officials ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: The communication patterns of commercial organizations are generally guided by Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT), but the impact of different crisis communication strategies for public messaging on COVID-19 has not been thoroughly examined. As such, we test how crisis communication strategies affect trust in mayors and the acceptance of behavioral measures, specifically regarding the buffering effect of a mayor’s pre-crisis reputation as well whether trust mediates the link between crisis communication strategies and acceptance of behavioral measures. Methods: A total of 561 participants (53% female; mean age 50 yrs) took part in an online experiment in which we systematically manipulated the mayor’s crisis communication strategy (deny vs. diminish, vs. rebuild, vs. bolstering, vs. no response) and pre-crisis reputation (good past crisis management, bad past crisis management). Age, gender and education served as covariates. In an exploratory analysis, we also tested the predictive power of personal concern regarding the COVID-19 pandemic as well as internal and external control convictions. Results: In our pre-planned analysis, we found that crisis communication strategies and pre-crisis reputation had no significant effect on participants’ ratings of acceptance of certain behaviors or their behavioral intentions. However, the different communication strategies did affect participants’ trust in the mayor and intention to vote for him. Specifically, we found that while the strategy of denying was overall unsuccessful, all other strategies fared similarly when the mayor’s pre-crisis reputation was high. When his pre-crisis reputation was low, differences emerged between the other strategies. The exploratory analysis corroborated earlier findings about the importance of individual concern and trust as predictors of behavioral measures. Discussion: Overall, SCCT seems to be an adequate description the effects of communication strategies on reputation in local officials during a pandemic. Yet, neither direct effects of communication strategies on acceptance of behavioral measures nor indirect effects on behavioral measures could not be shown. Since trust is an important aspect, we advise local officials to carefully choose their communication style.

scholarly journals Air Asia Crisis Communications Strategies and Malaysia Airlines: A Content Analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ni Ketut Dimar Warsihantari ◽  
I Gusti Ngurah Putra
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Crisis Management ◽  
Crisis Communication ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Aviation Industry ◽  
Crisis Communications ◽  
Aircraft Accidents ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
Communications Strategies

The aviation industry is one of the most vulnerable industrial sectors to the crisis. Failure to manage the crisis they face can threaten their lives. Therefore, managers of airline companies are required to have the ability to manage crisis and communicate in crisis situations. Crisis communication strategy becomes an important part in crisis management. This study uses content analysis of the crisis communication strategies used by AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines in their respective aircraft accidents on December 28, 2014 and March 8, 2014. This research found that both companies were fast enough to respond to crises despite differences in strategy they use in responding the  crisis. AirAsia emphasizes the use of apology without ignoring compensating, while Malaysia Airlines emphasizes compensation without ignoring apology.

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

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernadette Hyland-Wood ◽  
John Gardner ◽  
Julie Leask ◽  
Ullrich K. H. Ecker
Keyword(s):  
Crisis Communication ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Effective Communication ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Response Efficacy ◽  
Government Communication ◽  
Governmental Intervention

AbstractSeveral 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.

Using Binding Communication to Promote Conservation Among Hotel Guests

2015 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 169-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lohyd Terrier ◽  
Benedicte Marfaing
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Communication Model ◽  
Classical Communication ◽  
Persuasive Message ◽  
Sustainable Behavior ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Attitudes And Behavior

This research applies the binding communication model to the sustainable communication strategies implemented in most hotels. The binding communication model links a persuasive message with the implementation of a low-cost commitment to strengthen the link between the attitudes and behavior of those receiving the message. We compared the effectiveness of a classical communication strategy (n = 86) with that of a binding communication strategy (n = 101) to encourage guests to choose sustainable behavior. Our results show that using the binding communication strategy generates significantly more sustainable behavior in guests than using the classical communication strategy. We discuss our results and suggest future avenues of research.

STRATEGI KOMUNIKASI CROWDFUNDING PADA KOLASE.COM

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-187
Author(s):  
Venessa Agusta Gogali ◽  
Fajar Muharam ◽  
Syarif Fitri
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
New Method ◽  
Media Communication ◽  
Social Activists ◽  
Social Media Communication

Crowdfunding is a new method in fundraising activities based online. Moreover, the level of penetration of social media to the community is increasingly high. This makes social activists and academics realize that it is important to study social media communication strategies in crowdfunding activities. There is encouragement to provide an overview of crowdfunding activities. So the author conducted a research on "Crowdfunding Communication Strategy Through Kolase.com Through Case Study on the #BikinNyata Program Through the Kolase.com Website that successfully achieved the target. Keywords: Strategic of Communication, Crowdfunding, Social Media.

scholarly journals Can Communication Strategies Combat COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy with Trade-Off between Public Service Messages and Public Skepticism? Experimental Evidence from Pakistan

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 757
Author(s):  
Qiang Jin ◽  
Syed Hassan Raza ◽  
Muhammad Yousaf ◽  
Umer Zaman ◽  
Jenny Marisa Lim Dao Siang
Keyword(s):  
Public Service ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
World Health ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Media Type ◽  
Downward Spiral ◽  
Media Types ◽  
Health Organization

The COVID-19 pandemic may have reached a turning point as the World Health Organization and the global community of nations step up plans for mass vaccination campaigns. However, the COVID-19 vaccine-related conspiracy theories (e.g., falsehoods about birth control, women infertility, surveillance, and microchip humanity, etc.) have built new momentum for vaccine hesitancy. To this end, several nations worldwide, including Pakistan, are struggling to boost public trust and enthusiasm to get vaccinated, especially in an anxious and complicated atmosphere propelled by multiple, new and the deadliest variants of COVID-19. To address this critical research gap during these intensifying conditions of vaccine hesitancy, the present study makes the first attempt to explore the potential effects of various communication strategies, including public service message (safety benefits versus fear appraisals), media types (i.e., traditional versus digital), self-efficacy, perceived benefits and threats (susceptibility and severity), on the willingness to get vaccinated for COVID-19. Importantly, the underlying effects of public skepticism (in a moderating role) on these relationships were empirically examined. Using four fictitious COVID-19 immunization campaigns in a series of experiments with 2 (media type: traditional vs. digital) X 2 (service attribute: health and safety benefits vs. fear) message frames (represented as Group one to Group four), the findings identified fear appraisal as the most viable communication strategy in combating vaccine hesitancy. Moreover, public skepticism negatively moderated the effects of media types and public service message attributes on willingness to get vaccinated in relatively high (i.e., Group two), moderate (i.e., Group one and four), and low intensities (i.e., Group three). The pioneering findings of this research offer new strategic insights for the global health authorities and vaccine promoters to proactively address the downward spiral of people’s willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

Rethinking crisis dynamics from the perspective of online publics: A case study of Dolce & Gabbana’s China crisis

2021 ◽  
pp. 2046147X2110268
Author(s):  
Zhuo Ban ◽  
Alessandro Lovari
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Public Sphere ◽  
Crisis Communication ◽  
Chinese Culture ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
Interactive Process ◽  
Communicative Behavior ◽  
Media Channels ◽  
Chinese Public

On November 18, 2018, the Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana (D&G) released a controversial video on all their social media channels. The video triggered an instant outcry from the general Chinese public, who called the video a racist caricature of Chinese culture. D&G responded to the crisis with several image repair strategies. This study examines D&G’s crisis communication efforts in the wake of this incident. Departing from corporate-oriented perspectives prevalent in the field of public relations, this study employs a dynamic, public-oriented view of crisis communication, which focuses on the dynamic, interactive process of crisis development from the standpoint of the publics. By analyzing communicative behavior on Twitter (an increasingly influential alternative public sphere in China) and in particular, comments and responses toward the crisis communication strategies employed by D&G, we have identified four prominent themes, or ways that publics framed their key messages against the corporation: “Apology not enough”; “Apology done badly”; “Call to unite against D&G”; and “Sarcasm, mockery, and abuse.” And they can be interpreted as a number of crisis communication strategies of the global, online publics. Based on our analysis of the D&G case, we discuss the theoretical implications of a dynamic, public-oriented perspective (DPOP) on crisis communication, highlighting its key areas of difference from the corporate-oriented perspective (COP).

scholarly journals The Impact of Health Risk Communication: A Study on the Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika Epidemics in Curaçao, Analyzed by the Social Amplification of Risk Framework (SARF)

2021 ◽  
pp. 104973232110078
Author(s):  
Milou J. F. van Goudoever ◽  
Vaitiare I. C. Mulderij-Jansen ◽  
Ashley J. Duits ◽  
Adriana Tami ◽  
Izzy I. Gerstenbluth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Communication ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Social Amplification Of Risk ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
News Reports ◽  
Risk Framework ◽  
The Government ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Risk Reducing

Epidemics of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika have been threatening the Caribbean. Since risk communication (RC) plays a fundamental role in preventing and controlling diseases understanding how RC works is essential for enabling risk-reducing behavior. This multimethod qualitative study compares news reports with local’s and health professional’s perspectives, currently lacking in RC research. It was found that RC strategies were obstructed by a lack of governmental structure, organization, and communication. The content analysis showed that the majority of newspaper articles contained negative reporting on the government. Furthermore, this study shows how trust and heuristics attenuate or amplify people’s risk perceptions and possibly positively and negatively influence people’s risk-reducing behavior. A transcending approach (e.g., structural, cooperative, and multidisciplinary) of the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases and the corresponding RC is recommended.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document