Scholars from Yaşar University Faculty of Communication, Assoc. Prof. Özlem Alikılıç and Assoc. Prof. Ebru Gökaliler conducted a public research concerning the communication choices made during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the research that surveyed 513 participants, Whatsapp and the internet media were found to be the most frequently used means for obtaining information and the most reliable source of information was found to be consulting the close healthcare professionals and the prestigious and well-known healthcare professionals.
The study entitled “Turkey’s Communication Management During COVID-19: the information-seeking behaviors and means of information gathering concerning COVID-19 among the public” is supported as part of the Scientific Research Project by Yaşar University. Conducted by scholars from Yaşar University Faculty of Communication Department of Public Relations and Advertising Assoc. Prof. Özlem Alikılıç and Assoc. Prof. Ebru Gökaliler, the research was conducted also under a project executed by the European Public Relations Education and Research Association (EUPRERA) in 14 countries. The research has been the only study that was admitted from Turkey for the international project “COM-COVID”, which was organized to investigate the communication during the pandemic in 14 countries including countries from the US to China, from Spain to Finland, as well as Turkey.
MOST PREFERRED PLATFORMS
According to the results from the online survey carried out with participants of varying ages, professions and education backgrounds, the most preferred platforms used to obtain information about the pandemic during the COVID-19 pandemic were found to be Whatsapp, the internet media, and Instagram, respectively. These three top choices were followed by television, Youtube and Twitter. Among the most reliable sources of information for obtaining information during the COVID-19 pandemic were close healthcare professionals, prestigious and well-known healthcare professionals, and chambers and unions of healthcare. The least reliable sources were, on the other hand, social media phenomena and those sporting alternative therapy methods.