Opinion Formation Research Articles

Expert Opinion on the Role of Sacubitril/Valsartan in the Management of Hypertension in India.

Hypertension, a key modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), significantly contributes to premature death and morbidity worldwide. Despite stabilization in age-adjusted global prevalence, the absolute number of hypertensive individuals doubled from 2000 to 2010, largely due to increases in low- and middle-income countries. In 2021, only 21% of hypertensive individuals globally had effective blood pressure (BP) control. In India, hypertension is the leading risk factor for death and disability, with prevalence rates of 24% in men and 21% in women, as reported by the 2019-2020 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5). Alarmingly, just 25% of rural and 38% of urban hypertensive Indians are undergoing treatment, with only 10% and 20% achieving BP control, respectively. This highlights the hypertension paradox, where clinical inertia and hesitancy in intensifying BP-lowering therapy persist despite the availability of antihypertensive drugs. This expert opinion paper aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of sacubitril/valsartan in hypertension management, leveraging insights from its approved use in heart failure and examining its benefits and challenges across diverse hypertensive populations. The formulation of this expert opinion involved employing evidence-based methodologies and utilizing all available data. The document underwent scrutiny by expert cardiologists, whose clinical experiences and examination of the evidence and guidelines informed the formation of the expert opinion. This expert opinion paper provides a thorough and informed evaluation of sacubitril/valsartan, highlighting its potential to address unmet needs in BP control, particularly in challenging cases such as resistant hypertension and chronic kidney disease.

‘제주환경보전분담금(관광세)’ 제도 도입과정 분석 : 정책흐름모형(PSM)의 적용

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province has been reviewing the introduction of a tourism system related to a Tourism Tax for the environmental conservation of tourist destinations since 2012. However, the system, now referred to as the ‘Environmental Conservation Contribution,’ was ultimately postponed in May 2024 due to legal issues, political interests, negative public opinion regarding the system’s introduction, and a lack of supporting evidence. This study analyzes the process through the application of Kingdon(1984)’s Policy Streams Model(PSM), noting that discussions surrounding the ‘Jeju Environmental Conservation Contribution’, which faced long-standing challenges, did not follow a rational policy process due to differences in stakeholder opinions and the fluid nature of the system’s details. The anaylsis identified two main factors congributing to the difficulty in introducing the Jeju Environmental Conservation Contribution System. First, the window for policy decision-making did not open because the problem stream, policy alternatives stream, and political stream were not aligned, largely due to the insufficient formation of the political stream. Second, the policy leader who held significant influence in aligning these three streams, were unable to strongly lead the introduction of the system to it’s conclusion. Based on the research results, the practical implications of this study are as follows. First, for the successful implementation of the system, political efforts to persuade the public and shape public opinion are essential. Additionally, effective policy PR strategies are needed to foster social consensus through negotiations with multilateral consultative bodies and to enhance public awareness of the system. Second, it suggests that a logical and reasonable design that can change and persuade public perception is necessary when designing policy alternatives. Third, policy leaders should lead changes in the national atmosphere and public opinion formation based on professional knowledge and resources, and combine the three streams of the policy formation process with innovative strategies. The academic contribution of this study is that it lies in its application of empirical research using policy theory in the field of tourism studies, by clearly identifying the complex factors and problems involved in the introduction of the tourism system. Furthermore, this study enhances the clarity and objectivity of the analysis by refining the factors analyzed in the existing Policy Streams Model.

Research on the Impacts of Social Media Public Opinion on Women and Related Countermeasures

The development of social media platforms allowed people to express their perspectives on hotspot events freely. These different perspectives belong to public opinion, and they can affect people in several ways. Women are usually associated with many hotspot events, such as domestic violence, sexual assault, and so on, and social media can make these events highly exposed and discussed. Some women use public opinion to speak up for themselves successfully, while others endure the injuries brought by public opinion because of some stereotypes and the dissemination of rumors. So, understanding the formation and propagation of public opinion, the specific pros and cons produced by public opinion, and the appropriate solution to reduce injuries can help to create a harmonious online environment and promote gender equality all over the world. Therefore, this essay reviews and analyzes the previous research to explore the procedure of how positive and negative effects were created by public opinion. Ultimately, it offers disparate strategies that different stakeholders can adopt to minimize the negative impacts.

Exploring the Role of Short Video Platforms in Guiding Public Opinion in the New Media Era

With the rapid development of short video platforms, they are gradually changing the way information is disseminated and public opinion is guided. To explore the role of short videos in guiding public opinion, this study mainly analyzes data from third-party data platforms and short video media accounts to reveal the mechanism of short videos on the evolution of public opinion. A detailed statistical analysis of the content of relevant videos on the short video platform was conducted, including the number of video views, the number of comments, and their changing trends; An in-depth analysis was conducted on the videos and comments released by self-media and mainstream media. Through content analysis, the study evaluated the communication characteristics of these media in guiding public opinion, including the selective dissemination of information, emotional tendencies, and the shaping of public cognition. The research results show that short video platforms play a significant role in guiding public opinion, and their dissemination characteristics and content selection have a profound impact on the formation and development of public opinion. In particular, self-media and mainstream media play a key role in guiding public opinion. They play a leading role in shaping public opinion through different communication strategies and content presentation.

Jubilee by telegraph: the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s reign (1887) in the mirror of the Russian press

In the article, the author presents a review of reports on the celebration of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee (1887) in the leading newspapers and magazines of the Russian Empire, including The Government Gazette and Sankt-Peterburgskie Vedomosti. Additionally, the following periodicals were consulted: “Moskovskie Vedomosti”, “Novoe Vremya”, “Novorossiyskiy Telegraph”, “Vestnik Evropy” and “Vsemirnaya Illyustratsiya”, among others. Given the plethora of literature on the period of Queen Victoria’s reign and the growing interest in jubilee practices amongst British scholars, this topic has yet to be considered from that particular perspective. The article is divided into several thematic sections, including an examination of the characteristics of Russian periodicals, a comprehensive account of the jubilee celebrations themselves, an analysis of the participation of members of the Russian imperial family in the festivities, a discussion of Britain’s role as a colonial power, and more. In the latter half of the nineteenth century, periodicals constituted the principal source of information, and thus were in high demand. On the one hand, the press facilitated the formation of public opinion, thereby serving as an effective conduit for disseminating significant domestic and foreign policy developments. On the other hand, as the number of newspapers proliferated, publishers were compelled to increasingly prioritise the interests of their readership. At that time, telegraph agencies played a pivotal role in the circulation of international news, to some extent standardising the dissemination of information. Concurrently, there were publications that could claim to have their own correspondents on the ground, thereby facilitating the acquisition of a range of exclusive information. The capital’s newspapers and magazines set the tone for the provincial press, which was often constrained to lengthy reprints. Consequently, the Russian public could access news from places as distant as Great Britain.

İNFORMASİYA CƏMİYYƏTİ ŞƏRAİTİNDƏ İCTİMAİ RƏYİN FORMALAŞDIRILMASI

The article is devoted to the study of the phenomenon of public opinion in modern information society. Identification of the main characteristics of public opinion in the information society is carried out by studying mass communications. The process of public opinion formation involves a complex interaction of various factors that affect the interpretation of information

Роль резильєнтного потенціалу громадських організацій у відновленні територіальних громад України

The relevance of the research on the resilient potential of public organizations in Ukraine is determined by the need to increase the regenerative capabilities of territorial communities within a limited time frame and with restricted resource suport. The purpose of the article is substantiating the resilient potential of public organizations as an effective tool for increasing the adaptive capacity and self-organization of public community, mitigating the destructive consequences and accelerating recovery of territorial communities during the Russo-Ukrainian war and in post-war period. The novelty of the article consists in identifying the impact of public organizations on the resilient recovery of territorial communities in the conditions of the Russo-Ukrainian war. The research was carried out using the systems approach method, techniques of abstraction and generalization, functional and comparative analysis, statistical methods and data analysis, graphic method. The influence of public organizations on the resilience of territorial communities was analyzed by means of correlation-regression analysis. Three indicators of the resilient potential of territorial communities of the country were selected according to the criterion of significance and the existence of a cause-and-effect relationship. Namely: profitability of local budgets per person, cash income of households, the size of informally employed population as a sign of the shadow economy. The main functions of public organizations in ensuring the resilience of territorial communities have been disclosed. It is substantiated that the most effective tools for the influence of public organizations on ensuring the resilience of communities in the conditions of the war and post-war period are active means (promotion of citizens’ mobility, formation of public opinion, public control) and segmental tools (influence on certain population groups, infrastructure objects, territories etc.) with a fixed effect (legal assistance to internally displaced persons, reconstruction of the destroyed property and healthcare facilities, improvement of epidemic living conditions, ensuring the operation of a humanitarian center, collection of necessary information).

The Socialising Role of Cross-border Mobility and its Effects on the Representation of the Border: The Case of Hiking Around Mont Blanc

ABSTRACT In this article, we look at the hikers who have completed the Tour du Mont Blanc, questioning their socialisation not only in the practice of hiking but also in the practice of cross-border mobility. We also analyse the effects of this cross-border mobility in terms of their representation of the border, as well as their opinion of the European Union. Our methodology was based on 15 semi-structured interviews. Results show that the socialisation of cross-border mobility among hikers depends on their social background. Those from the most privileged backgrounds travel the most, particularly outside Europe. These experiences of cross-border mobility have an impact on the formation of opinions and attitudes towards the EU and representations of the border. However, on the Tour du Mont Blanc, the lack of border signs and the absence of checks makes the border easy to cross. It is therefore not considered to be a barrier.

Reflection of the war in Ukraine in Polish media: general overview

In the article it is analyzed how the Polish media cover the full-scale war in Ukraine, in particularly different information strategies and approaches. There are considered the main themes, accents and trends, which dominate the Polish mass media, as well as possible influence of media coverage on the public opinion in Poland. The main aim of the study was to provide an analysis of how Polish media highlighted and continue to cover full-scale war in Ukraine. The research tasks firstly lied in the research and review of source base, in particular processing scientific works Ukrainian and foreign researchers on the topic of coverage the war in Ukraine by Polish media. Secondly, it was important to highlight the most popular Polish media and to provide review of content of their materials that concerned on Ukraine. Finally, it was provided a comparative genre- thematic analysis of coverage of publications about Ukraine in Polish media, with separation key narratives and trends. Analysis covers both traditional and online media formats, while evaluating their role in formation of public opinion as well as political moods. New genre formats were considered, in particular those which appeared in the Polish media after full-scale invasion of Russia to Ukraine. Also thematic accents in Polish media are highlighted. In the article there are emphasized those media approaches which can influence on polish perception of war in Ukraine. Moreover, it is examined what social and political consequences it may have. The separate attention is assigned to the impact of the media coverage on the informational, political, economic and diplomatic relations between Poland and Ukraine. The conclusion presents reflections on the possible scenarios of development media coverage of war in Ukraine in the future and it`s potential influence on Polish society and international politics.

Hegel’s Answer to the ‘Academy’ Question: Is it Permissible to Deceive a People?

Abstract In 1780 Frederick II pushed the Prussian Academy to put forward a controversial question for a public essay contest: “Is it useful for the people to be deceived, be it by leading it into new errors or by confirming it in those which it upholds?” Although Hegel would have been too young to participate in the contest, he took two later opportunities to provide what would have been his answer. Whereas the Phenomenology of Spirit evaluates Enlightenment’s charge that religious faith is based on deception, the Philosophy of Right suggests that public opinion formation tends to lead to collective self-deception. In both versions of his answer, however, Hegel argues that it is impossible to deceive a people about its essence. In this paper I clarify what Hegel means by a people’s essence and why he thinks it impossible to deceive a people about it.

Political polarization and corruption: A theoretical and empirical review

Notwithstanding the considerable scholarly and public attention that political polarization and corruption have attracted in recent years and the important mechanisms through which the former may influence the latter, research in this area remains limited and inconclusive. This article offers a comprehensive theoretical and empirical synthesis of the current state of research in this domain. It finds that a large fraction of the apparent contradictions can be attributed to the conceptual inconsistencies and ambiguity surrounding political polarization. The types of polarization that have an inherently hostile and uncivil element (usually referred to as affective or pernicious polarization) undermine democratic accountability, which leads to more corruption. The role of ideological polarization among parties and the general population is more complex: it may boost accountability and decrease corruption but can also contribute to the aforementioned harmful forms of polarization and enhance the role of partisan bias in public opinion formation, thereby increasing corruption. The overall effect of ideological polarization on corruption may depend on the nature and the degree of the former, as well as on mitigating contextual factors. The two may create a vicious circle as corruption also increases political polarization via various channels.

A life course approach to political preference formation across social classes

While social class has received renewed attention as a driver of political conflict in Western democracies, little is known about when political differences by classes emerge and consolidate. Are they a direct consequence of individuals’ economic prospects and daily experiences on the job, or are they driven by a sorting process responding to family origin and earlier formative experiences? This study applies a life course approach to identify the impact of (future) social classes during early adulthood, in the transition to employment, and the transition to the main class of destination. These longitudinal analyses using British and Swiss panel data allow for adjudicating the stage(s) at which political preferences become more marked across social classes. The results indicate that differences by (future) class are apparent early in life, and that they consolidate during employment. This research advances current and historical debates about social class as a relevant milieu of political socialisation and public opinion formation.

A Review on the Impact of Social Media and the Internet on Consumer Purchasing Decisions

This essay's goal is to examine the nuanced effects of social media and the internet on consumers' decision-making processes while making purchases. Due to the quick advancement of Internet technology and the enormous popularity of social media platforms, social media serves as a vital forum for customer interaction and communication as well as the formation of opinions that have a significant impact on consumers' decision-making processes when making purchases. A significant quantity of information about how social media and the Internet affect consumer buying decisions has been gathered through sample analysis and literature reviews. The research framework is established in the literature review portion. The data collection and analysis of the earlier samples was utilized in the sample analysis phase to validate the research findings and identify the precise mechanisms by which social media and networks influence consumer purchase decisions. The following factors primarily illustrate how social media and the Internet affect consumer purchasing decisions: First, social media offers a wealth of product information via e-live broadcasting and other channels. Users may explore, search, and compare products to gain a more thorough understanding of them and to assess them more critically, enabling them to make better purchasing decisions. Second, social media advertising, word-of-mouth marketing, and user reviews have a big influence on consumers' purchasing decisions, which are frequently impacted by other people's assessments and opinions. Furthermore, social media influences consumers' psychological views and emotional reactions, which in turn influences their purchasing decisions.

Rumäniens Beitritt zum Schengen-Raum: Eine pragmalinguistische Untersuchung zu den österreichischen, bundesdeutschen und rumänischen Schlagzeilen in der Online-Presse

Abstract Media linguistics, an interdisciplinary research field, extensively engages in the analysis of language in the media and its impact on society. An interesting application case in media linguistics concerns the analysis of headlines in online press. Headlines in the media play a crucial role in information dissemination and significantly influence public opinion formation. When it comes to political events or international developments, headlines serve as powerful tools to shape the perception of the news and thus steer readers’ attitudes in a desired direction. In this article, I refer to the Austrian, German and Romanian online press regarding Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area. It is noticeable that the coverage in German media often appears more distant, while Austrian media adopt a critical tone in their headlines. This particularity could be linked to Austria’s geo graphical proximity to Romania, raising interesting questions about media linguistics and the cultural imprint on media coverage. In addition, the analysis also employs a pragmalinguistic perspective, which explores how linguistic elements in headlines are used within specific communicative contexts to convey meaning and achieve pragmatic goals.

Numerical method for forming an alternative opinion in coalitions of highly qualified specialists using relative usefulness indicator

Subject of research: the formation of an alternative opinion in coalitions of highly qualified specialists. Purpose of research: development of a numerical method for the formation of an alternative opinion in coalitions of highly qualified specialists using a relative utility indicator and its subsequent implementation in the form of a computer program. Methods of research: survey, formalization, system analysis, correlation analysis, Hamming criterion, natural experiment, object-oriented programming. Main results of research: 1. The approach proposed by the author, based on combining methods of mathematical statistics and taking into account the individual competencies of experts, provides new opportunities for the formation of an alternative opinion in coalitions of experts and allows for increased efficiency in decision-making. 2. Verification of the developed numerical method was carried out using the example of a survey of police officers regarding violators of security systems in the field of critical information infrastructure. 3. A computer program has been developed that implements the created method. 4. The study revealed that the relative usefulness indicator of the j-th expert provides an opportunity to form alternative expert positions that have a reliable generalized opinion. 5. The practical significance of the work lies in the development of a computer program that can be used to conduct expert surveys and obtain reliable expert assessments based on them.

Understanding COVID-19 Media Framing: Comparative Insights from Germany, the US, and the UK During Omicron

ABSTRACT This study examines the media framing of COVID-19 reporting in Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom during the period of the highly contagious Omicron variant from December 2021 to March 2022. By identifying issue-specific media frames using hierarchical cluster analysis, the study gains insights into the distinctive characteristics of journalistic roles within each country and sheds light on the similarities and differences in media framing. Findings reveal that the German Süddeutsche Zeitung prioritizes the economic and Omicron impact on society and reports rather emotionally through evaluations and blame on social issues but frames otherwise quite neutral, reflecting its role in opinion formation and information dissemination. Conversely, the American New York Times takes an objective and informative approach, except similar to the Süddeutsche Zeitung when dealing with social impacts of the pandemic, addressing Omicron, economic impacts, and vaccination challenges while emphasizing shared burdens of the pandemic. The British Guardian gives equal weight to economic and social consequences and the Omicron impact and also raises the issues concerning the healthcare sector. Blame and negative evaluations cross all frames and newspapers, although (emotionally charged) evaluations and accusations are most prevalent in the Guardian, often directed at unvaccinated people and politics.

The Role of Social Media in Shaping Public Opinion: A Comparative Analysis of Traditional vs. Digital Media Platforms

This study examines the role of social media in shaping public opinion, contrasting it with traditional media platforms through a qualitative literature review. As digital media becomes increasingly prevalent, understanding its impact on public discourse is essential. The research highlights the unique attributes of social media, including interactivity, immediacy, and user-generated content, which differentiate it from traditional media formats such as television, radio, and print. By synthesizing findings from a variety of scholarly articles, this study identifies key themes regarding how social media influences public perception, mobilizes communities, and facilitates the spread of information. Furthermore, the analysis reveals significant challenges, including the prevalence of misinformation and echo chambers, which can distort public opinion and polarize discourse. The results indicate that while social media offers opportunities for broader engagement and diverse perspectives, it also necessitates critical literacy among users to navigate the complexities of digital information landscapes. This paper contributes to the ongoing discourse on media studies by providing a comprehensive overview of the comparative effects of traditional and digital media platforms on public opinion formation. The findings underscore the need for further research into the ethical implications of social media usage and its potential to shape democratic processes.

Inhomogeneous Hegselmann–Krause models with two types of noise

We derive two types of stochastic Hegselmann–Krause opinion formation models with leadership, study their different asymptotic behaviors and the noise effect to the leader’s control. Firstly, we propose a stochastic model with a multiplicative noise, which mimics the randomness from communication uncertainty. Using the Lyapunov functional approach, we provide a sufficient condition leading to the almost surely consensus behavior, which partially explains the mechanism that the group with large size and strong leadership can tolerate strong noise produced by communication uncertainty. The second noise comes from environmental uncertainty, fluctuates the system and makes opinions diverse and inclusive. We derive a stochastic model with additive noise, show that the noise from the environment destroys the leadership. However, the relative fluctuations of the followers’ opinions around the leader’s opinion have a uniformly bounded variance, which means they are still in a same group with the leader’s control. Finally, numerical simulations are performed to confirm theoretical results and explore more findings.

Understanding public opinion formation in Southeast Europe: Exploring social forces and communication dynamics

The article investigates the mechanisms through which social forces, networks, cognitive frames, and institutions shape public opinion in Southeast Europe via communication. Employing a qualitative approach, data was collected through synchronous focus groups conducted in six Southeast European countries. The findings reveal that social networks play a pivotal role in shaping public opinion, with organizational position and relationships influencing communication effectiveness. Cognitive frames significantly impact public perception, with entrenched beliefs guiding interpretation of information. Meanwhile, social institutions, such as language and communication rules, influence the clarity and accessibility of messages, thereby shaping public understanding. The research underscores the need for deeper research, ethical standards, and transparent communication to build and maintain public trust. Continuous engagement with the public and adaptability in communication strategies are essential for fostering mutual understanding and trust. This research emphasizes social forces’ complexity and overlapping nature in shaping public opinion and the strategic approaches required for effective communication in Southeast Europe.

Технологии медиакоммуникаций в политической сфере в контексте современной геополитической ситуации

The article considers key characteristics of media communication technology in the political sphere in the context of the current geopolitical situation. The author explores the influence of modern media communication for political information. The article analyses the features of application of media communication technologies by various political actors, as well as their influence on public opinion formation and political preference. The article is of interest to specialists in the field of political science, sociology, journalism and other humanities, as well as to a wide range of readers interested in modern trends in the development of media communication technologies and their impact on the political sphere. The author of the article considers political communication as a process of transfer of politically relevant information between different elements of the political system with the aim of its subsequent assimilation. The digital factors of influence of media communications on political environment are analyzed. Modern media communication technologies provide new opportunities for political actors to influence public opinion and shape the political preferences of citizens. However, they can also be used to spread misinformation and manipulate the public consciousness, so the author points out the importance of professionalizing knowledge in this area to prevent the dissemination of inaccurate information. It seems that political actors in the digital environment need to intensify interaction with online platforms, digital services and social networks for effective interaction with the population.