Public Distrust Research Articles

Analysis of Decision-Making in The Ranks of Adhoc Election Supervisors in South Minahasa Regency

The purpose of this study is to describe and analyze how the planning, implementation, supervision, and evaluation of decision-making in adhoc election supervisors in South Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi. Various phenomena that occur in this study are that the adhoc election supervisors in South Minahasa Regency often face dilemmas in decision-making, especially due to tight time pressure, limited resources, and interventions from various stakeholders. In addition, they are also faced with the challenge of maintaining integrity and professionalism amidst the complexity of the local political situation and conflicting interests. This phenomenon reflects how election supervisors must balance compliance with electoral regulations with the need to act quickly and effectively in the field. The current phenomenon of adhoc election supervisors in South Minahasa Regency is that there are allegations of bribery, not yet so skilled in the decision-making process, throwing responsibility to each other. This is evidenced by public distrust of adhoc election supervisors, with complaints. In the form of administrative weaknesses, coordination does not work, lack of transparency, teamwork is not effective and efficient and even the attitude of dropping each other among members is very thick. The research method used is qualitative research with purposive sampling technique. Informants are election supervisors in South Minahasa Regency. The results showed that 1) Planning in supervisory duties must be planned in accordance with the stages of supervision and existing regulations while coordinating and strengthening the regulatory understanding of the Election Supervisor with what is planned in the implementation of supervision; 2) Implementation Decision making must be in accordance with what is planned based on joint coordination so that what is planned can be implemented; 3) Supervision Decision-making is needed by adhoc supervisors in order to ensure that what is planned is in accordance with the data and what is planned; 4) Evaluating the results of supervision must be carried out by adhoc supervisors carried out in supervisory tasks from the results of tiered coordination, so that the time and results of the achievement of what is planned and decided later can be appropriate and have a positive impact on the institution.

Lost in translation: The need for updated messaging strategies in invasion biology communication

Societal Impact StatementAs with any complex environmental challenge, information about the “invasive species problem” must be communicated effectively to generate widespread public trust, understanding, and engagement in solutions. However, there is growing recognition that conventional messaging strategies can be ineffective or even detrimental at activating the broader public. Flawed communication practices can have harmful societal impacts by perpetuating misinformation, propagating feelings of panic and fatalism, and disaffecting audience members within historically marginalized communities. In this article, we draw attention to existing communication barriers in invasion biology and attempt to address the flawed messaging strategies which perpetuate negative societal outcomes.SummaryEffective communication about introduced, invasive species is necessary for the public to engage in productive dialogue and participate in solutions. Best practices in communication are more essential than ever before, as the harmful environmental and societal impacts of invasive species are exacerbated by globalization and anthropogenic disturbance. In this article, we review how public misunderstanding and mistrust present persistent barriers to invasion biology communication. We then describe three flawed messaging strategies that underlie these barriers. These strategies include fear appeals, simplified invasion metaphors, and militaristic and xenophobic language. Though intended to inspire a public sense of urgency and action, these strategies more often stoke sentiments of confusion and mistrust when employed in practice. Efforts to develop new best practices in communication are already underway. However, there is a great need for efficacy testing and wider adoption among science and education professionals alike. We draw from the interdisciplinary literature to recommend specific forms of value appeals, metaphors, and language that are a promising foundation for improvement.

POLICE RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING: ASSESSING THE IMPACT ON OFFICER BEHAVIOR AND CITIZEN COMPLAINTS IN NIGERIA

This study examines the impact of police recruitment and training practices on officer behavior and citizen complaints in Nigeria, identifying significant deficiencies that contribute to misconduct and public distrust. The research explores how inadequate recruitment standards, political interference, and insufficient training on ethics and community policing have undermined the professionalism of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). Using an exploratory approach, the study analyzes literature reviews and secondary data from academic and governmental sources, comparing Nigeria’s practices with successful reforms in other African nations. Research indicates that the lack of a centralized background check system and inadequate training contribute to pervasive police misbehavior, as seen during the "End SARS" protests. Comparative analysis highlights best practices from countries like South Africa and Rwanda, where community-oriented policing and rigorous recruitment standards have improved public trust. The study concludes that reforming recruitment and training processes is crucial to promoting accountability and restoring public confidence in law enforcement. Key recommendations include establishing a centralized recruitment database, revamping training programs, and strengthening oversight mechanisms.

Development of the cognitive-behavioral communication (CBC) framework: A novel approach for mass communication in contact tracing during infectious disease outbreaks

The Cognitive-Behavioral Communication (CBC) Framework was developed to improve public compliance with contact tracing during infectious disease outbreaks, addressing the gaps exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. These gaps, including public distrust, misinformation, and privacy concerns, hindered traditional contact tracing efforts. The CBC Framework integrates mass communication theories, cognitive-behavioral strategies, and AI-driven message personalization to enhance public engagement. The framework was tested through comparative field trials, with one group receiving personalized communication via the CBC model and another receiving standard public health messages. Results showed that the CBC group achieved a significantly higher compliance rate (85.6% vs. 66.4%) and a 33% reduction in privacy concerns. AI-driven messages also increased relevance over time, with 86.2% of participants reporting improved message relevance. Public trust was significantly higher in the CBC group, with positive sentiment at 67.5% compared to 45.2% in the control group. These findings have particular relevance to the U.S., where challenges like distrust and privacy concerns have impeded the effectiveness of contact tracing. The CBC Framework presents a scalable solution to improve compliance, trust, and overall public health outcomes during future outbreaks.

Developing HPV Vaccination Communication Strategies: Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Barriers Among Healthcare Professionals in Kazakhstan

Background: Cervical cancer, predominantly caused by human papillomavirus, remains a major public health issue globally and in Kazakhstan, where it ranks among the most common cancers in women. A pilot HPV vaccination programme in Kazakhstan was suspended in 2017 due to mass parental refusals, and it is planned to be restarted in the coming years. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, barriers, and sources of information about HPV and the HPV vaccine among healthcare professionals in Kazakhstan. Methods: A cross-sectional study (December 2022–May 2023) involving 1189 healthcare professionals in Kazakhstan used a self-administered questionnaire. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, mean knowledge score, between-group comparisons, and binary logistic regression to identify factors linked to higher knowledge and vaccine recommendation. Results: The study found that the average knowledge score for HPV and the HPV vaccine among participants was 11 out of a possible 18. Correct answers to the questionnaire were observed more frequently among physicians than among nurses (p < 0.001). In our study, 72.6% of healthcare professionals expressed a positive intention to recommend the HPV vaccine. The likelihood of recommending the HPV vaccine was significantly higher among those with higher knowledge of HPV and its vaccine (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.3–2.5; p < 0.001), those familiar with cervical cancer patients (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.5–2.8; p < 0.001), and those with positive attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine and childhood vaccination (OR 2.3 and 1.5, respectively). Healthcare professionals identified key barriers to HPV vaccination, including public mistrust (49.4%), fear of side effects (45.9%), and insufficient knowledge among healthcare professionals themselves (30.3%). Information from the internet, including articles and journals, was the most commonly used source of information, followed by social media and colleagues. Conclusions: The disparities identified call for a tailored, multifaceted communication strategy that addresses the diverse needs of health professionals to address the differences in awareness between different groups, in order to ensure successful implementation and coverage of HPV vaccination across Kazakhstan.

The Great Vaccine Divide: A Comparative Analysis of Distrust in Covid-19 Vaccines in Turkey

The aim of this study is to identify key predictors of public distrust in different Covid-19 vaccines available in Turkey. We use multiple linear regression with robust standard errors to analyze the data from the 2022 Turkey Covid-19 Values Survey of 1,500 face-to-face interviews across Turkey. Our results show that Pfizer/BioNTech has the lowest level of distrust, followed by Sinovac and Turkovac. Trust in political institutions and health institutions significantly reduce distrust for all vaccine brands. However, conspiracy beliefs and political conservatism are linked to higher distrust in Sinovac and BioNTech, while increased religiosity correlates with more distrust in BioNTech but less in Turkovac. Our comparative brand analysis adds an essential perspective to the existing literature while highlighting the necessity of maintaining public trust in institutions. It also demonstrates the importance of brand-specific strategies in promoting vaccines and addressing challenges faced by populations for more successful public health initiatives.

ПРОБЛЕМИ ТА ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ СТРАХУВАННЯ ТУРИСТИЧНОЇ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ

The article discusses the types of insurance in tourism. Based on the analysis of the insurance market of Ukraine, it was established that the number of insurance companies decreased by almost three times during the years 2015-2022, and 25 insurance companies worked in the field of tourism in 2023. It was revealed that the following companies are the leaders in the travel insurance market: European Travel Insurance, ARX, VUSO, PZU Ukraine. The factors that hold back the development of tourism insurance are highlighted: military actions due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, political instability; decrease in the number of tourists, low solvency of the population; imperfect legal framework; poor awareness of the population in the field of tourism insurance; public distrust of insurance companies; a narrow range of insurance services in the field of tourism insurance; incomplete and untimely fulfillment of obligations to policyholders; limited scope of insurance protection due to reduction of insurance prices by insurers; decrease in the quality of insurance products; insufficient professional level of insurance company specialists; overall low development of the country's insurance market. The main trends in the field of insurance in Ukraine are revealed: individual policies for certain tourist segments, use of artificial intelligence, transformation of products into the format of electronic policies, blockchain technologies. Directions for solving problems in the field of insurance in tourism are indicated: improvement of the regulatory and legal framework; ensuring political stability, increasing economic development in the state; training of highly qualified personnel in the field of insurance; improvement of insurance culture; creation of protective mechanisms for tourists; assistance from the state to the development of the insurance market in Ukraine; improvement of the risk management mechanism; increasing public trust in insurance companies; expanding the list of insurance services and improving their quality.

Challenges Encountered by Police Officers During Crime Investigations

This study highlights the vital function of police officers involved in criminal investigations in maintaining the integrity of Indian society through effective law enforcement and fair justice. However, it identifies several obstacles that impede their efficiency, including heavy workloads, lack of adequate resources, shortage of officers, external pressures, and technological limitations, particularly when addressing serious crimes, cybercrimes, and offences involving cryptocurrency. These issues contribute to decreased morale among officers who investigate crimes and increase public distrust, especially amidst growing media scrutiny. Furthermore, the psychological strain of handling complex cases worsens these challenges. The study calls for comprehensive reforms to alleviate workloads, enhance the number of investigative officers, increase the sanctioned strength of police officers, improve resource allocation, integrate technology into investigations, and create a more efficient and culturally sensitive police system. Implementing these reforms is essential for strengthening investigative capabilities, adapting to the changing criminal landscape of the 21st century, and ensuring law enforcement's dedication to safeguarding the integrity of Indian society.

Infodemic, Ignorance, or Imagination? The Problem of Misinformation in Health Emergencies

Abstract In understanding and responding to the problem of misinformation during global health emergencies, health experts and organizations such as the WHO have relied on the concept of the “infodemic,” or the idea that there is such an overabundance of information that ascertaining trustworthy sources and reliable guidance is difficult. Is this the best way to understand the problem of misinformation, however? A large and multidisciplinary literature has argued that such an approach misses the important role of individual psychological factors and societal “mega-trends” such as hyperpolarization, structural shifts in the media, and public mistrust in elites. This article argues that such contributions are important in understanding the multifaceted problem of misinformation but may miss another, equally important component: the politics of emergency. Specifically, the prominent role of speculation during moments of emergency—the need to respond to “what ifs” rather than just “what is”—provides a conducive context for misinformation, facilitating its production and spread while also problematizing efforts to correct it. The article illuminates this relationship through a discourse analysis of prominent misinformation claims during the US responses to Ebola in 2014 and COVID-19 in 2020.

Analysis of Profiles of Supporters of Conspiracy Narratives about Vaccination Against COVID-19 on a Social Network

The article analyzes the socio-demographic characteristics and value-worldview self-positioning of the distributors of conspiracy narratives (“conspiracy theories”) about vaccination against COVID-19 on the Russian social network “VK”. The research material consists of 33,674 profiles of VK users who published at least two messages during the pandemic that explicate the stated narrative. The collection and analysis of the material was carried out using big data analysis technologies. The purpose of the study is to determine whether it is possible to identify typical socio-demographic and ideological traits of anti-vaccer conspiracy theorists, which to a certain extent explain their penchant for conspiracy thinking. The results obtained refute the marginal dominance of conspiracy theorists in a pandemic situation. Versions popular in the scientific literature about the predominance of insufficiently educated people among “conspiracy theorists”, or the elderly as more gullible, or women as more suggestible, or residents of villages and small provincial towns as more conservative, etc. are not confirmed by the large-scale empirical studies of large user data. The results of the study may be useful for developing countermeasures and strategies to address public mistrust of institutions and official trends in public health, in particular vaccination policies. The traditional focus on information and educational measures (explanations about the dangers of the disease and the benefits of the vaccine) seems to be ineffective in the context of the emergence of value systems, cognitive distortions, general socio-political tension and other reasons that are still awaiting serious study.

Fenomena Main Hakim Sendiri dan Dampaknya terhadap Keamanan yang Berujung Pidana

The phenomenon of "vigilante" is still a serious problem in various regions, including Pangkalan Jati Village. This extrajudicial action not only violates social norms, but also has the potential to threaten public order and security. This study aims to analyze the phenomenon of "vigilante" in Pangkalan Jati Village, as well as its impact on environmental security. The method used is a case study with a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews with community leaders, village officials, and victims/perpetrators of "vigilante" actions. The results of the study indicate that factors such as weak law enforcement, public distrust of the authorities, and lack of legal awareness are the main triggers for these actions. The impacts include increasing rates of violence, social divisions, and security instability. As an effort to overcome this problem, legal socialization has been carried out to the community as part of community service activities. This socialization is expected to increase public legal awareness, strengthen trust in the authorities, and encourage the community to resolve problems legally. This study concludes that legal socialization is an important step in preventing "vigilante" actions and creating a safe and conducive environment.

Police Public Image through the Lens of Community Stakeholders

Police community relation is meant to combat citizen mistrust of the police force. This strategy was developed in the mid-20th century to help officers ​​work more collaboratively with the communities they are assigned to. The hope was that activities such as town hall meetings and “meet and greet” foot patrols would create a partnership between citizens and the police force, increasing trust and ultimately leading to reduced crime. This study explored the views of community stakeholders on the police public image in the province of Southern Leyte through a qualitative research method. The informants of this study were ten individuals from different sectors of society within the province of Southern Leyte. All informants were subjected to an individual in-depth interview. The findings of this study are described in emergent themes. Six (6) emergent themes described the positive and negative views of the informants regarding their current views on the public image. For the positive views, three (3) emergent themes were developed, namely Community Engagement and Cooperation, Trust in Police and Public Safety, and Commitment to Duty and Profession. For the negative views, three (3) emergent themes were also developed: Use of Excessive Force and Violence, Negative Stereotypes and Public Distrust, and Malfeasance and Inconsistent Law Enforcement. Meanwhile, two (2) emergent themes were formulated to explain how the impact of the police public image affects the community stakeholders, namely, Police as Protector and Police as Public Defender. Finally, four (4) emergent themes were formulated to explain how police activities promote community confidence and trust, namely Enhanced Police Visibility, Community Outreach Program, First Responders in Calamities, and Proactive Information Campaigns. Based on the emergent themes identified, it is recommended that the Philippine National Police (PNP) enhance the efficacy of law enforcement officers by developing stronger relationships with the public and addressing the issues pointed out in the study to restore public confidence. Essential measures may include improving community engagement through transparent communication and enhancing officer training in ethics and accountability.

Politics of Violence in Healthcare

Violence against healthcare workers (HCWs) has surged globally, extending beyond conflict zones into areas of relative peace. This editorial examines the epidemic of such violence, which has been exacerbated by recent pandemics. Historical and contemporary instances, such as the 1830s cholera riots, the 2013/14 Ebola outbreak, and recent attacks in Kolkata, highlight how political instability, public mistrust, and socio-economic inequalities fuel aggression against HCWs. A comprehensive analysis reveals that 50-75% of HCWs experience workplace violence, with a significant portion facing sexual abuse. Contributing factors include inadequate security, poor governance, and societal intolerance of HCWs. Possible solutions offer hope, including workplace safety, legal protections, and public awareness of the problem. The editorial calls for a multi-faceted approach involving legislation, better reporting, and global cooperation to address the root causes of violence and improve the safety of HCWs.

Mediating Effect Of Employee Wellbeing On The Relationship Between Recruitment And Selection Practices And Employee Commitment Of National Police Service In Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Low employee commitment has been a prevalent issue within the National Police Service (NPS), often leading to negative consequences such as low morale, poor service delivery, and public distrust. Therefore, this study sought to determine the mediating effect of employee wellbeing on the relationship between recruitment and selection on employee commitment of National Police Service in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. The study was guided by Ability motivation opportunity theory. This study adopted explanatory research design. The sample size of 328 for this study was calculated based on Yamane’s formula. The researcher used a questionnaire as research instrument. A pilot study was conducted in national police service in Nandi County. Quantitative data collected using the questionnaires for all the objectives were analysed using descriptive statistics that is frequency, percentages, mean and standard deviation. Inferential analysis was carried through correlation and multiple regression analysis. Analyzed data were presented in form of tables and charts. The study findings revealed that the effect of recruitment and selection practices on employee commitment through employee wellbeing is 0.3041, indicating that for every standard deviation increase in recruitment and selection practices. The study concluded that improving recruitment and selection practices can lead to higher levels of employee wellbeing, which in turn can enhance employee commitment. The study recommended that organizations should focus on improving recruitment and selection practices to enhance employee wellbeing and ultimately increase employee commitment.

Development of a machine learning algorithm for fake news detection

With the extensive technological advancements and expansion, the persistent issues regarding the creation and rapid dissemination of fake news have become a prevalent and recurrent concern. The manipulation of news content has critical repercussions, such as causing public mistrust, fear, harm, and misinformation. Addressing that, this study developed a supervised machine learning algorithm that can accurately classify social media data as fake news. The methodology of the proposed fake news detection model involved five main components: data acquisition from Twitter, data preprocessing, data transformation, model development using Naïve Bayes, decision tree, and support vector machine (SVM) and model evaluation using accuracy, precision, recall and F1-score. The results revealed that decision tree recorded the highest accuracy for both textual data (100%) and metadata (94.54%) and consistently outperformed both Naïve Bayes and SVM in terms of precision, recall, and F1-score metrics, with a score of 100% for the classification of textual data-based datasets. Regarding the metadata-based classification, decision tree also demonstrated excellent performance, with the highest F1-score of 94% for fake news data. Meanwhile, SVM exhibited the highest precision and recall performance for the metadata-based classification. Overall, the application of the decision tree classifier was deemed the most effective in Twitter fake news detection.

Trust and distrust in public governance settings: Conceptualising and testing the link in regulatory relations

ABSTRACT The relationship between trust and distrust in public governance is still an open question. In the literature, three different perspectives on how trust and distrust are related are intensively debated: (1) trust and distrust as two ends of the same conceptual continuum; (2) trust and distrust as opposites, but with neutral ground in between; and (3) trust and distrust as related, yet distinct concepts. Employing a new measure for distrust and by using perceptual data on trust and distrust in regulatory agencies from multiple types of stakeholders in nine countries and three sectors, this article shows that high trust and high distrust can co-exist at the same time, and that trust and distrust are negatively correlated only to a limited extent. Moreover, while trustworthiness correlates strongly with trust, trustworthiness does not or only weakly correlate with distrust in a negative way. These findings are robust even when controlling for respondents' characteristics, different types of stakeholders, sectors and countries. This suggests that in public governance settings trust and distrust should be considered as distinct concepts, and the article calls for more research into the distinctiveness of the measurement, causes and effects of distrust, compared to trust.

A VIKOR-Based Decision Support System for Prioritizing Public Facility Improvements in Malang City with Geotagging Integration

Public facilities play a crucial role in driving economic growth and development. Nevertheless, the dearth of public information concerning facility enhancements fosters a sense of public distrust towards the government. Additionally, numerous facilities, which should be prioritized for improvement, have not received adequate attention. In contrast to several prior studies, the present study encompasses a broader scope and incorporates geotagging techniques to precisely identify the location of complaints and determine the optimal route to reach them. Moreover, an analysis process utilizing the VIKOR method has been devised to assess the priority of public facility improvements. This method yielded an accuracy rate of 89,7%, signifying a commendable level of precision and a 16% increase in accuracy based on confusion matrix method compared to previous studies. Through user usability testing, it was determined that the majority of users agreed that this system can facilitate public reporting, enable progress monitoring of public facility improvements, and aid in prioritizing such improvements.

Manajemen Strategi Pemasaran Produk Manulife Saving Protector pada PT Asuransi Jiwa Manulife Surabaya Pusat

One of the best insurance companies in Indonesia is PT Asuransi Jiwa Manulife Indonesia, a financial services provider from Canada that operates in Asia, Canada and the United States. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Manulife has been serving customers for more than 155 years. Manulife is traded under the symbol ‘MFC’ on the Toronto, New York and Philippine stock exchanges, and under the symbol ‘945’ in Hong Kong. Manulife Indonesia has offered a variety of financial services including life insurance, accident and health insurance, investment services and pension funds to individual customers and business actors in Indonesia. Manulife Indonesia has served more than 2 million customers in Indonesia through a network of more than 11,000 employees and professional agents spread across 30 marketing offices. Given the increasing market potential in Indonesia, many insurance companies, both local and foreign, are trying to reach the market in Indonesia. In order for the company to be able to compete with other insurance companies, a sales strategy and product are needed that can attract the interest of its customers. One of the most popular products owned by PT AJ Manulife Indonesia is Manulife Saving Protector, which is the only individual dual-purpose life insurance product (endowment) that can provide Insurance Money of up to IDR 1.5 billion without having to undergo a medical examination first. The insurance industry in 2023 is projected to increase along with improving economic conditions in Indonesia. However, the level of public distrust can hinder the development of this industry. This causes many people to tend to delay opening an insurance policy.

Analisis Hukum Kasus Penembakan Pendeta Yeremia Zanambani dalam Perspektif Hak Asasi Manusia

This research aims to analyze in depth the shooting case of Pastor Jeremiah Zanambani from the perspective of law and human rights. In addition, the paper will also discuss the challenges in law enforcement in conflict areas, the social, political, and legal impacts of the shooting cases and provide policy recommendations to prevent the recurrence of state violence cases in the future. The research methods used in the legal analysis of the shooting case of Pastor Jeremiah Zanambani in a human rights perspective can include several key steps. First, the researcher will conduct a detailed case study related to the chronology of events, relevant facts, and social and political context in Papua. The social, political, and legal impact of the shooting of Pastor Jeremiah Zanambani is complex and multifaceted. From public trauma and mistrust, to rising political tensions, to major challenges in law enforcement, all of these aspects show the urgency of the need for reforms and new approaches to dealing with conflict in Papua.

Understanding the failure of government debunking communication: insights from China

ABSTRACT This study uses qualitative methods to examine the challenges faced by authoritarian regimes in managing rumors during public crises, focusing on the Urumqi government’s (the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in Northwestern China) response to COVID-19 lockdown rumors. The analysis identifies four factors contributing to the failure of government debunking communication: Rejection due to Negative Past Experiences, Discourse Reinterpretation by Mismatched Criteria, Disregard Toward Inflexible Statements, and Opposition Arising from Perceived Superficial Efforts. These factors culminate in a core mechanism termed ‘Emotional Resistance Anchored in Distrust,’ highlighting how negative past experiences shape public distrust and foster resistance to government communication. The findings challenge the assumption of automatic public trust in authoritarian contexts and underscore the importance of aligning government actions with public needs and expectations, particularly during crises.