Communication Strategies Research Articles

Social Media Authentication and Users' Assessments of Health Information: Random Assignment Survey Experiment.

In an effort to signal the authenticity of user accounts, social networking sites (SNSs) such as Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter, use visual heuristics (blue checkmarks) to signify whether accounts are verified. While these verification badges are generally well recognized (and often coveted) by SNS users, relatively little is known about how they affect users' perceptions of accuracy or their likelihood of engaging with web-based information. This is particularly true in the case of information posted by medical experts and health care professionals. This study aims to use an experimental survey design to assess the effect of these verification badges on SNS users' assessments of information accuracy as well as their proclivity to recirculate health information or follow verified medical experts in their social network. A survey experiment using random assignment was conducted on a representative sample of 534 adult SNS users in Florida, United States. A total of 2 separate experimental scenarios exposed users to vaccine-related posts from verified medical experts on X. In each case, the original post contained a platform-issued verification badge (treatment group), which was subsequently edited out of the image as an experimental control. For each scenario, respondents were randomly assigned to either the treatment or control group, and responses to 3 follow-up questions were assessed through a series of chi-square analyses and 2 logit regression models. Responses were fielded using a stratified quota sampling approach to ensure representativeness of the state's population based on age, sex, race, ethnicity, and political affiliation. Users' assessments of information accuracy were not significantly impacted by the presence or absence of verification badges, and users exposed to the experimental treatment (verification badge) were not any more likely to repost the message or follow the author. While verification badges did not influence users' assessments or subsequent behaviors, reliance on social media for health-related information and political affiliation were substantial predictors of accuracy assessments in both experimental scenarios. In scenario 1, which included a post addressing COVID-19 vaccine efficacy, users who relied on social media "a great deal" for health information were 2 times more likely to assess the post as accurate (odds ratio 2.033, 95% CI 1.129-3.661; P=.01). In scenario 2, which included a post about measles vaccines, registered Republicans were nearly 6 times less likely to assess the post as accurate (odds ratio 0.171, 95% CI 0.097-0.299; P<.001). For health professionals and medical experts wishing to leverage social networks to combat misinformation and spread reliable health-related content, account verification appears to offer little by way of added value. On the basis of prior research, other heuristics and communication strategies are likely to yield better results.

Strategies to promote treatment compliance: a grounded theory study with relatives of people with a serious mental health condition.

Treatment pressures encompass communicative strategies that influence mental healthcare service users' decision-making to increase their compliance with recommended treatment. Persuasion, interpersonal leverage, inducements, and threats have been described as examples of treatment pressures. Research indicates that treatment pressures are exerted not only by mental healthcare professionals but also by relatives. While relatives play a crucial role in their family member's pathway to care, research on the use of treatment pressures by relatives is still scarce. Likewise, little is known about other strategies relatives may use to promote the treatment compliance of their family member with a serious mental health condition. In particular, no study to date has investigated this from the perspective of relatives of people with a serious mental health condition. The aim of this study was to answer the following research questions: Which types of treatment pressures do relatives use? Which other strategies do relatives use to promote the treatment compliance of their family member with a serious mental health condition? How do treatment pressures relate to these other strategies? Eleven semi-structured interviews were conducted with relatives of people with a serious mental health condition in Germany. Participants were approached via relatives' self-help groups and flyers in a local psychiatric hospital. Inclusion criteria were having a family member with a psychiatric diagnosis and the family member having experienced formal coercion. The data were analyzed using grounded theory methodology. Relatives use a variety of strategies to promote the treatment compliance of their family member with a serious mental health condition. These strategies can be categorized into three general approaches: influencing the decision-making of the family member; not leaving the family member with a choice; and changing the social or legal context of the decision-making process. Our results show that the strategies that relatives use to promote their family member's treatment compliance go beyond the treatment pressures thus far described in the literature. This qualitative study supports and conceptually expands prior findings that treatment pressures are not only frequently used within mental healthcare services but also by relatives in the home setting. Mental healthcare professionals should acknowledge the difficulties faced and efforts undertaken by relatives in seeking treatment for their family member. At the same time, they should recognize that a service user's consent to treatment may be affected and limited by strategies to promote treatment compliance employed by relatives.

Positive public attitudes towards agricultural robots

Robot technologies could lead to radical changes in farming. But what does the public know and think about agricultural robots? Recent experience with other agricultural technologies—such as plant genetic engineering—shows that public perceptions can influence the pace and direction of innovation, so understanding perceptions and how they are formed is important. Here, we use representative data from an online survey (n = 2269) to analyze public attitudes towards crop farming robots in Germany—a country where new farming technologies are sometimes seen with skepticism. While less than half of the survey participants are aware of the use of robots in agriculture, general attitudes are mostly positive and the level of interest is high. A framing experiment suggests that the type of information provided influences attitudes. Information about possible environmental benefits increases positive perceptions more than information about possible food security and labor market effects. These insights can help design communication strategies to promote technology acceptance and sustainable innovation in agriculture.

A mixed-methods approach to understand victimization discourses by opposing feminist sub-groups on social media.

Opposing social movements are groups that have conflicting objectives on a shared social justice issue. To maximize the probability of their movement's success, groups can strategically portray their group in a favourable manner while discrediting their opposition. One such approach involves the construction of victimization discourses. In this research, we combined topic modelling and critical discursive psychology to explore how opposing groups within the feminist movement used victimization as a lens to understand their movements in relation to transgender women. We compiled a dataset of over 40,000 tweets from 14 UK-based feminist accounts that included transgender women as women (the pro-inclusion group) and 13 accounts, that excluded transgender women (the anti-inclusion group). Our results revealed differences in how victimization was employed by the opposing movements: pro-inclusion groups drew on repertoires that created a sense of shared victimhood between cisgender women and transgender women, while anti-inclusion groups invoked a competitive victimhood repertoire. Both groups also challenged and delegitimised their oppositions' constructions of feminism and victimhood. These findings add to our understanding of the communication strategies used by opposing movements to achieve their mobilization goals.

Investigating genetic counselors' communication with Lynch syndrome patients about cascade testing: Barriers, facilitators, and strategies.

Cascade testing is an imperative process to engage Lynch syndrome patients' at-risk relatives in early cancer risk reduction interventions. How genetic counselors communicate about cascade testing is crucial to patients' intentions of and actual involvement in family communication. Based on data from 20 interviews with genetic counselors, this qualitative study examined their perceptions of barriers and facilitators of offering cascade testing to at-risk relatives and the specific communication strategies they use to discuss cascade testing with patients. We identified patient-level, genetic counselor-level, and system-level barriers and facilitators of having discussions with Lynch syndrome patients about cascade testing. The qualitative data also revealed four prominent communication strategies that genetic counselors use for such discussions: build rapport, reframe the benefits of family communication, adapt communication, and provide various resources. These findings highlight genetic counselors' needs of practical and structural support to facilitate their communication about cascade testing, especially when patients are hesitant or lack resources or skills to notify at-risk relatives about cascade testing.

Impact of health insurance literacy, brand reputation, and risk attitude on intentions to purchase private health insurance policy

Purpose: To investigate the mediation effect of health insurance providers’ brand reputation (BR) on health insurance literacy (HIL) and intentions to purchase (IP) while assessing the moderated mediation effect of risk attitude towards health Insurance (RAHI). Methods: The study design is cross-sectional and quasi-experimental. The adapted questionnaire, which consisted of 20 items, was sent to respondents with the help of online surveys. A total of 229 complete respondents were analysed with the help of IBM SPSS V.23 and Andrew Hayes’ Process Macro 4.2, Model 7 for moderated mediation analysis. Results: RAHI, HIL, and BR are significant determinants of customers’ intentions to buy health insurance, affecting insurance providers’ marketing and communication strategies. RAHI is found to play a moderating role in health insurance literacy’s effect on insurance purchase intentions through brand reputation with a moderated mediation index of (B = −0.12, 95% CI = −0.21/−0.04). Conclusion: This study underscores the pivotal role of HIL in shaping the BR of private insurance providers and, consequently, influencing individuals’ IU private health insurance plans. Originality: This study's unique contributions are twofold to the body of knowledge; firstly, it highlights the BR’s mediating role on HIL and IP; secondly, it proves the moderated-mediation effect of RAHI on HIL’s influence on IP through BR. Practical Implications: Health Insurance providers shall take active measures to improve the HIL of potential customers with a focus on reducing the perceived risk. At the same time, measures should be taken to improve the brand reputation as it enhances the effect of HIL on IP.

Australian hearing healthcare stakeholders’ experiences of and attitudes towards teleaudiology uptake: a qualitative study

ABSTRACT This study aimed to explore the experiences of Australian-based hearing healthcare stakeholders' with using teleaudiology and their views on future teleaudiology uptake. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 stakeholders (six clients, 10 clinicians, three students, two academics, and two industry partners). Six themes were generated: (1) Barriers to and facilitators of teleaudiology uptake, (2) Advantages and challenges of using teleaudiology, (3) Additional considerations when using teleaudiology, (4) Teleaudiology education at university, (5) Recent development in improving teleaudiology uptake, and (6) Attitudinal changes in post-pandemic teleaudiology uptake. Poor digital literacy and positive support received from other stakeholders were found to be the biggest barrier and facilitator, respectively. Additional considerations including the type of service offered and clear communication strategies were highlighted. Students and academics noted inadequate teleaudiology education at university, mainly due to a lack of infrastructure and equipment. Recent encouragement from management and improvement in university infrastructure were reported. Most participants were optimistic about post-pandemic teleaudiology uptake and expressed increased willingness to use teleaudiology over time. Generally positive attitudes towards future teleaudiology uptake were observed. Gradually increasing collaborative effort was seen in improving teleaudiology uptake, yet certain challenges and barriers need to be addressed to further promote teleaudiology uptake in post-pandemic times.

Bug city life: Public acceptance of urban insect-friendly meadows in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland

Reports of continuing declines in some insect populations have raised concerns and calls for action to protect insects. The establishment of insect-friendly meadows in urban areas provides an opportunity to conserve both insect and plant diversity. However, public acceptance can be an obstacle to the implementation of such meadows, for example, due to competing land use interests and the perception that tall meadows are visually unattractive. To address these concerns and align urban green spaces with both public preferences and environmental needs, a systematic understanding of the factors influencing public acceptance of meadows is essential. To this end, a representative online survey was conducted in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland with 899 participants to assess the acceptance of insect-friendly meadows in urban areas. The study shows significant support for insect-friendly meadows across all subgroups and within each country-specific subgroup. The factor that most influences their acceptance is the recognition of the ecological benefits of these meadows. It is therefore highly recommended to prioritize public awareness campaigns that highlight the complex relationship between plant and insect diversity. Such efforts can contribute to a better understanding of the benefits of insect-friendly meadows for biodiversity, thereby increasing public support for these conservation measures. Additionally, considerations related to perceived aesthetics, appreciation of an increase in insect abundance, preference for public funding, and a general sense of safety around these meadows should inform the development and communication strategies for insect-friendly green spaces, as they significantly influence public acceptance. These design and perception aspects of meadows were shown to have a stronger influence on the acceptance of meadows than individual, attitudinal characteristics such as environmental attitudes or attitudes toward insect decline. While this study provides insights into the general public acceptance of insect-friendly meadows, more research is needed to understand the influence of the specific local context on meadow acceptance.

Differences in the Communication of Cancer Diagnoses by Different Health Professionals and the Impact of Oncologist Communication on Patients’ Emotions

The field of healthcare is increasingly adopting a humanistic perspective in the physician–patient relationship. One of the more salient aspects being studied is the communication between the two. This study serves a dual purpose. Our initial aim was to study how a cancer diagnosis is disclosed to patients by different physicians (GPs/other specialists/oncologists). Secondly, we set out to study how the way in which oncologists normally communicate with their patients impacts variables such as a patient’s anxiety, depression, coping mechanisms, and perception of both their health and their quality of life. A total of 177 patients answered a battery of questionnaires on sociodemographic and disease data: the SPIKES protocol, the EORTCQLQ-COMU26, and the ADAF screening questionnaire. The analyses recorded medium or high scores for some of the steps in the SPIKES protocol when delivering the diagnosis, and significant differences were observed for some of them among different physicians. The level of a cancer patient’s satisfaction with the communication by oncologists was related to their levels of anxiety, depression, vulnerability, and perception of their health and quality of life. Better communication strategies are called for among all healthcare professionals to facilitate the task of breaking bad news to their patients.

Public Communication for Effective Service Delivery to Refugees in Uganda. The Case of Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement

This study argues that Public Communication in Refugee Settlements, when managed professionally and structurally with a deliberate open feedback mechanism for the end-users of services provided by the government and its development partners, could be a great tool for the evaluation and enhancement of public services provided in Refugee Settlements. The study analyses the education and health sectors as parameters for the government’s service delivery in the case of the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement. Taking a qualitative research methodology approach with the case of Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, the study found that the Uganda Refugees Act (2006), which authorises service provision by the government to the refugees, has no specific public communication strategy or policy clearly spelled as a communication framework to support service provision feedback. Therefore, the study recommends a direct public engagement communication strategy involving refugees and relevant stakeholders in the public service provision with the ultimate goal of improving service delivery at Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement

Social Media in times of change: a three-period analysis of sentiment and engagement on the romanian ministry of education's online presence

Introduction: This research investigates the role of social media in institutional communication, with a focus on its effectiveness in engaging stakeholders within the educational sector. It analyzes the impact of digital transformation on public institutions, focusing on how governments' strategic communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, the adoption of digital platforms, and Facebook's role in Romanian public administration demonstrate social media's capabilities. It highlights the effectiveness of social media in spreading information, engaging public sentiment, and enhancing communication strategies during crises. Additionally, it addresses the challenges of combating misinformation and underscores the importance of developing tailored communication strategies. Methodology: The study investigates the engagement of the Romanian Ministry of Education on social media, especially Facebook, during the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods. It aims to discern shifts in communication strategies and public engagement by analyzing posting frequency, engagement rates, sentiment analysis, and reaction types, employing tools like Fanpagekarma and RStudio for data collection and analysis. Results: The analysis indicates an uptick in post frequency by the Ministry of Education during the pandemic, with sentiment analysis revealing a consistently positive tone. This suggests a strategic shift towards more optimistic messaging. Engagement rates showed considerable variation pre-pandemic but stabilized during and after the pandemic, indicating effective content resonance with the audience. Conclusions: The study underscores the significant role of social media in crisis communication, evidenced by increased engagement and strategic positive messaging. It recommends institutions continue utilizing social media for flexible communication strategies, suggesting that a balance of optimistic messaging with transparent discussions about challenges can boost public trust and engagement, aiding in the development of a well-informed and resilient society.

Syntax, Technology and Politics: Analyzing Political Facebook Posts

This study used Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) theory to analyze syntactic complexity in digital communication. Thirty Facebook posts made between August and December 2023 by John Dramani Mahama, a Ghanaian former president, were analyzed in this study. A textual analysis was conducted on the data. The findings affirmed that grammatical categories are functional. There was a deliberate linguistic strategy marked by a prevalence of declarative sentences and a notable dominance of complex structures in this genre of digital writing. The strategic use of non-finite clauses contributes to the complexity of the discourse. The genre of writing is also characterized by information ranking and integration. The linguistic choices align with the formal expectations of political and digital communication – precision, depth, and engagement. These observations challenge and enrich existing theories of political discourse and communication strategies in the digital era. Keywords: Syntactic Complexity, Digital Communication, Facebook, Sentence Types, SFL

Healthcare Providers' and Frontline Workers' Experiences of an Ebola Vaccine Trial in the Boende Health District of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This study explored the experiences of healthcare providers (HCPs) and frontline workers who were involved in an Ebola vaccine trial in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The researchers interviewed a total of 99 participants (HCPs and frontline workers) living and working in the Boende health district during the period of the study, from February to March 2022. These individuals included a mix of trial participants and non-trial participants (staff of the trial, local health authorities, and head nurses of health centers). In-depth individual interviews, as well as focus group discussions (FGDs), were used to understand interviewees' experiences and perceptions. The data were analyzed to identify the main themes. The findings unveiled a multitude of positive experiences among interviewees/FGD participants. The commitment of the trial investigators to improve the study site and to equip the volunteers with necessary skills and knowledge greatly contributed to a positive trial experience. However, some interviewees felt that the reimbursement for time and travel expenses during their trial visits was insufficient in comparison with their expectations. Additionally, there were expressions of worry about the frequency of blood draws during scheduled trial visits. Our findings emphasize the critical importance of addressing and continuously considering the perspectives and concerns of trial participants before designing and implementing vaccine trials. By actively incorporating their inputs, researchers can mitigate concerns and tailor communication strategies, potentially enhancing the overall success and impact of the vaccine trial.

Explore SHEIN's Brand Image and Develop Brand Communication Strategies from the Perspective of Brand Communication - Based on the Data on YouTube

This paper investigates the Brand Image of Shein, an international fast-fashion platform, via the analysis of comments from YouTube. The analysis based on the MDCOR software concludes the thousands of comments representative of the brand image through a select amount of the most representative comments. The comments are inputted into Wijayas theoretical model on brand image. The result concludes Sheins Brand Image is primarily negative and is associated with undesirable elements such as fast fashion, poor value, and labor right violations. Failures to address such elements have severely decremented the brand image. Such results are consistent with other user feedbacks we find on other social media platforms, including Reddit and Twitter, where users have reported that above mentioned elements have discouraged them from using the platform. The findings in this work provide insight into Fast Fashion, an emergent e-commerce business model, and evaluate the detriments of existing e-commerce platforms to accommodate this business model.

Strategi Komunikasi Pemasaran K-Radio Jember dalam Mendapatkan Iklan

Radio is a medium that can only be heard and played once. In this digital era, radio is required to be able to develop and coexist with the internet era or the modern era. Currently, the internet makes it easier for people to obtain music, entertainment and information. Such as from Facebook, Twitter, Tiktok, Instagram, YouTube and other social media platforms. Therefore, radio must be able to maintain its existe bangghostmen@gmail.com, gusainul@gmail.com nce in the current digital era for the future of radio so that it remains standing and carries out operational activities every day. K-Radio maintains its existence by developing multiplatform. Researchers are interested in this radio because they want to explain the marketing communication strategies implemented by K-Radio in obtaining advertising. Therefore, the researcher raised this as the focus of the research. This research uses a qualitative method with a descriptive approach. This research aims to analyze and explain the marketing communication strategies used by K-Radio Jember in obtaining advertisements. The data collection techniques used were observation, interviews and documentation. The results of this research show that K-Radio Jember implements a marketing strategy by applying the concept of Experience and One Stop Shopping, Data and Portfolio, K-Radio Branding, Content Creativity on Multiplatform, and Promotions and Events. In the implementation process, the marketing communications strategy implemented by K-Radio Jember turned out to have several challenges, but these challenges can be overcome by developing multi-platforms and creating creativity and innovation in broadcast content and social media content

Spread spectrum for covert communication in ultra-violet communication system

In this paper, we propose a covert communication scheme based on a spread spectrum for ultra-violet communication. We first characterize the system model of the communication system, where Warden is adopted to monitor the legitimated user transmission based on the binary hypothesis test and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. To avoid periodic transmission of the pilot sequence which potentially degrades covertness, we propose a blind synchronization approach, such that the pilot sequence does not need to be transmitted. It is observed from system-level simulation that the spread spectrum-based approach can achieve both low detection bit error rate and covertness under weak light intensity. Moreover, we experimentally evaluate the detection performance and covertness of the proposed approach.

Strategies for Effective Dentist-Patient Communication: A Literature Review.

The effectiveness of high-quality dental care predominantly lies on the communication between dentist and patient. However, little literature has reported the importance of these "soft skills" in dental practice. The aim of this literature review is to explore strategies for effective dentist-patient communication. Dentist-patient communication is a bidirectional process involving the exchange of ideas that should be clear (easy to understand), correct (accurate), concise (to the point), complete (with essential information), and cohesive (well-organized). Effective communication empowers patients with the knowledge required to make an informed decision about their own oral health. It not only improves the dentist's efficiency and boosts patient confidence, but also alleviates patients' dental anxiety and fear, addresses patients' needs and preferences, increases patients' adherence, and enhances patient satisfaction. To enhance dentist-patient communication, dentists should take the patient-centered approach as a premise. The approach comprises understanding patients' illnesses, shared decision-making, and mindful intervention at the patient's own pace. In addition, dentists should use simple, succinct language, proper body posture, gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact when interacting with patients. Dentists should show empathy, encourage questions and feedback, employ visual aids, and give ample time to patients. Nowadays, dentists and their patients use messaging applications in their communication. This form of telecommunication is not only a convenient way of communication but also reduces the costs associated with a dentist visit. In conclusion, effective dentist-patient communication is vital for the success of dental practice. Dentists who prioritize communication and build positive relationships with their patients are more likely to achieve positive outcomes and foster the expansion of their dental practice.

The role of social media in public health awareness during times of war in Sudan: snakebites and scorpion stings

BackgroundSnakebite envenomation (SBE) and scorpion sting envenomation (SSE) are significant neglected tropical diseases that primarily affect impoverished communities in rural areas of developing nations. A lack of understanding about snake and scorpion species and their distribution exacerbates the disabilities and fatalities caused by SBE and SSE. In Sudan, particularly in regions affected by ongoing conflicts where healthcare resources are scarce, social media platforms offer a cost-effective approach to addressing public health challenges. Our aim in this study is to highlight the benefits of using social media for data collection and health promotion in such environments.MethodsWe present a cost-effective communication and data collection strategy implemented at the Toxic Organisms Research Centre (TORC) of the University of Khartoum, focusing on a Facebook group, “Scorpions and Snakes of Sudan”, as our primary social media platform. Additionally, we discuss the lessons learned and the initial impact of this strategy on enhancing population health literacy.ResultsThe group community is composed of ~ 5000 members from 14 countries. During the period from January 2023 to January 2024, we received 417 enquiries about snakes and scorpions belonging to 11 families and composed of 55 species. In addition, 53 other enquiries covered a range of organisms and their tracks (e.g., spiders, skinks, chameleons, foxes, sun spiders, centipedes, lizards, moth larvae, and insect tracks). The first photographic evidence of Malpolon monspessulanus in Sudan was via the group activities. The rare species Telescopus gezirae, the Blue Nile cat snake, is also documented via the group member’s queries. Recognizing the evolving nature of social media use in public health, we also address the current limitations and evidence gaps that need to be addressed to effectively translate best practices into policy.ConclusionIn conclusion, utilizing Facebook as an institutional platform to share scientific information in simple Arabic language underscores the proactive roles that citizens, scientists, and public health stakeholders can play in leveraging social media for eHealth, eAwareness, and public health initiatives. This approach highlights the potential for collaborative efforts, particularly during crises, to maximize the benefits of social media in advancing public health.

Proposal and investigation of a distributed learning strategy in orbital edge computing-endowed satellite networks for Earth Observation applications

One of the key enabling solutions to in-orbit extract information from Earth Observation images is given by deep learning techniques. However, the accuracy of these algorithms is strictly related to the availability of large datasets of satellite images for training purposes. Limitations on the available transmission bandwidth in the orbital context may prevent the possibility to downlink all acquired images to a node where centralized training happens. Instead, Federated Learning (FL) could be fruitfully leveraged in this scenario, since it provides for each satellite to train a local model only with its own dataset, and then to share its trained model with a central server, which receives models trained by the different satellites and aggregates them into a new global model being eventually shared with all the satellites, and this repeats until convergence is reached. However, because communication with a node acting as a central parameter server may be still limited by short visibility time, the described process may need a long time because of limited communication windows, negatively impacting the time needed to reach model convergence. For this reason, we propose a communication strategy to support a completely distributed learning technique to train a deep learning model in-orbit, by leveraging the fact that satellites may form a network thanks to the potential availability of Inter-Satellite Links (ISLs) within and between orbital planes. Our proposal is different from a FL approach since we provide for each satellite to receive all the information needed to calculate an updated global model by itself, without leaning on a central parameter server. Numerical results show that distributed learning outperforms FL in number of learning rounds completed in the unit time, allowing for reaching validation accuracy convergence in a shorter time, as it has been verified on a land coverage classification task based on the EuroSAT dataset.

Confirmation bias, information selection, and belief reinforcement about the safety/risk of nuclear spent fuel storage facilities

This study investigates the phenomenon of confirmation bias in information selection in the context of nuclear spent fuel (NSF) storage facilities. An online survey was administered to a sample of 321 residents in South Korea. They were asked to assess their beliefs about the safety/risk of NSF storage facilities before and after their exposure to additional information. Our findings show a positive association between the initial belief and confirmation bias, suggesting that the research participants tend to select articles consistent with their beliefs about the safety/risk of the facility. Trust in government is negatively related to confirmation bias, implying that residents with a greater level of trust in government are more likely to choose information opposing their initial beliefs. Finally, this study finds the self-reinforcing and potentially polarizing nature of individuals' beliefs about the safety/risk of NSF storage facilities as residents’ initial beliefs are reinforced rather than challenged after they reviewed self-selected articles. Implications for public policy and communication strategies related to improving the acceptance of NSF storage facilities are discussed.