Governments worldwide are faced with unique challenges during the current COVID-19 pandemic. To limit the threats that this virus causes to public safety, governments need to ensure that their...Show moreGovernments worldwide are faced with unique challenges during the current COVID-19 pandemic. To limit the threats that this virus causes to public safety, governments need to ensure that their citizens follow the measures set out by them. Previous research has shown that information that contains specific types of messages can have an influence on the extent to which people are willing to adhere to government measures. The current study builds on these strategies and theories and investigates the extent to which the communication of either fear or hope has an influence on (1) people’s understanding of COVID-19 related information and (2) people’s willingness to adhere to government measures. In a survey experiment participants read a scenario in which the government issued a statement regarding the measures that they had put in place previously. Results show that the communication of hope increases people’s understanding of COVID-19 related information but does not have an effect on people’s willingness to adhere to government measures. These findings suggest that when governments want to increase people’s understanding of the pandemic situation during future pandemics they need to communicate hopeful messages, but these findings also suggests that more research needs to be done into ways in which actual willingness to adhere to government measures can be increased.Show less
Master thesis | Crisis and Security Management (MSc)
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This study conducts research to unravel the influence of crisis response strategies applied by public leaders on the stances taken on by stakeholders, anticipating on their future process of...Show moreThis study conducts research to unravel the influence of crisis response strategies applied by public leaders on the stances taken on by stakeholders, anticipating on their future process of political accountability. Anticipating on dynamic crisis communication efforts, this study conducts research to crises in which Dutch public leaders experience a significant crisis aftermath in the form of an official inquiry. Findings confirm the key argument within the SCCT-theory by Coombs (2007), that stresses the importance to formulate the response strategy, during and in the aftermath of a crisis, by means of the perceived initial responsibility. Remarkably, findings from the case of Utrecht may suggest that consistency positively contributes to the stakeholder stances taken on towards the crisis handling of the mayor. In addition, inconsistency during and in the aftermath of a crisis, present in the response strategy by Pauline Krikke in the case of The Hague, seems to negatively affect stakeholders stances towards the mayor’s handling of the crisis. Finally, findings of this study reveal the importance of incorporating the findings from the inquiry report in the response strategy during the aftermath of the crisis. When anticipating on the findings of the inquiry report, the mayor takes on political accountability for their crisis efforts.Show less
