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Uncivil communication and epistemic trustworthiness concerns in public online discussions in response to scientists during the Covid-19 pandemic

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: The Covid-19 pandemic illustrated important developments in science communication, with direct online interactions between scientists and the public. This study performs a content analysis of tweets (“N” = 6,000) directed at German virologists (“N” = 6) during the pandemic’s first year. It identifies substantial levels of incivility and trustworthiness concerns, which often co-occurred. These findings enhance our understanding of online communication dynamics in crises by showing how incivility and trustworthiness concerns are not only prevalent but also evolve in response to specific events and phases. This analysis provides insight into the complexities of public sentiment toward scientists during the pandemic.

Source: Journal of Science Communication

DOI: 10.22323/2.23060203

Author: Nicola Peters

Institution: Technische Universität Braunschweig

Language: English

Topic: Communication and COVID-19 Impact

Subfield: Communication

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Award: Wissenschaftskommunikation in Pandemien: Die Rolle der öffentlichen Beteiligung an social media Diskussionen