The application of emotions, sharing motivations, and psychological distance in examining the intention to share COVID-19-related fake news

Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019-related fake news consistently appears on social media. This study uses appraisal theory to analyze the impact of such rumors on individuals' emotions, motivations, and intentions to share fake news. Furthermore, the concept of psychological distance and construal level theory are used in combination with appraisal theory to compare toilet paper shortages and celebrity scandal rumors. Design/methodology/approach: Data collected from 299 Taiwanese respondents to 150 toilet paper shortage-related and 149 celebrity gossip-related questionnaires were processed using partial least squares regression and multigroup analysis. Findings: In both cases, surprise is felt most intensely. However, unlike in the celebrity fake news scenario, worry plays a prominent role in driving the altruistic sharing motivation related to the toilet paper shortage rumor. Furthermore, while emotional attributes (basic or self-conscious, concrete, or ) serve as a guide for how emotions change with psychological distance, the degree to which an emotion is relevant to the fake news context is key to its manifestation. Originality/value: This study examines the impact of individuals' emotions on their motivations and intention to share fake news, applying the appraisal theory and the psychological distance concept in a single study to fake news sharing intention. It evaluates the relationship between psychological distance and emotions, revealing that it is not absolute and need not necessarily shift according to psychological distance change;rather, the relationship is context-sensitive. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

The application of emotions, sharing motivations, and psychological distance in examining the intention to share COVID-19-related fake news

Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019-related fake news consistently appears on social media. This study uses appraisal theory to analyze the impact of such rumors on individuals' emotions, motivations, and intentions to share fake news. Furthermore, the concept of psychological distance and construal level theory are used in combination with appraisal theory to compare toilet paper shortages and celebrity scandal rumors. Design/methodology/approach: Data collected from 299 Taiwanese respondents to 150 toilet paper shortage-related and 149 celebrity gossip-related questionnaires were processed using partial least squares regression and multigroup analysis. Findings: In both cases, surprise is felt most intensely. However, unlike in the celebrity fake news scenario, worry plays a prominent role in driving the altruistic sharing motivation related to the toilet paper shortage rumor. Furthermore, while emotional attributes (basic or self-conscious, concrete, or ) serve as a guide for how emotions change with psychological distance, the degree to which an emotion is relevant to the fake news context is key to its manifestation. Originality/value: This study examines the impact of individuals' emotions on their motivations and intention to share fake news, applying the appraisal theory and the psychological distance concept in a single study to fake news sharing intention. It evaluates the relationship between psychological distance and emotions, revealing that it is not absolute and need not necessarily shift according to psychological distance change;rather, the relationship is context-sensitive. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Review of Gamified MOOC’s Impact Toward Learner’s Motivation in Learning Effectiveness Context

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) have become a strong support for building a ubiquitous learning environment typically during Covid19 pandemic. Although more and more Internet users are willing to try MOOC, the problems corresponding to users’ free and autonomous learning are a poor learning experience, low long-term attractiveness to users, and low completion rate of courses. The fundamental reason is that online learning behaviour cannot be well motivated and maintained. A key design concept related to the MOOC is gamification design - the application of game design elements to non-gamification scenarios. Some MOOC has integrated different gamification method to attract users. However, the academic community’s attitude towards gamification still inconsistent, and even some studies believe that the level of user motivation in the gamified design condition will decrease. From the perspective of user information behaviour, this paper follows the logical route of “motivation-behaviour” and analyse the perceptual challenge and perceptual attention, learning results and cognitive user participation. From the MOOC context, this paper discusses the technical application factors that affect user behaviour and enriches the research direction in the field of information behaviour. Lastly, this study puts forward some development suggestions to MOOC operators to comprehensively improve the perception challenge and attention of MOOC users and enhance their learning effect. © 2022, ICST Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering.

Living with COVID-19: The road ahead

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the world for more than a year, with multiple waves of infections resulting in morbidity, mortality and disruption to the economy and society. Response measures employed to control it have generally been effective but are unlikely to be sustainable over the long term. METHODS: We examined the evidence for a vaccine-driven COVID-19 exit strategy including academic papers, governmental reports and epidemiological data, and discuss the shift from the current pandemic footing to an endemic approach similar to influenza and other respiratory infectious diseases. RESULTS: A desired endemic state is characterised by a baseline prevalence of infections with a generally mild disease profile that can be sustainably managed by the healthcare system, together with the resumption of near normalcy in human activities. Such an endemic state is attainable for COVID-19 given the promising data around vaccine efficacy, although uncertainty remains around vaccine immunity escape in emergent variants of concern. Maintenance of non-pharmaceutical interventions remains crucial until high vaccination coverage is attained to avoid runaway outbreaks. It may also be worthwhile to de-escalate measures in phases, before standing down most measures for an endemic state. If a variant that substantially evades immunity emerges, it will need to be managed akin to a new disease threat, with pandemic preparedness and response plans. CONCLUSION: An endemic state for COVID-19, characterised by sustainable disease control measures, is likely attainable through vaccination.

Homo economicus? An investigation of factors influencing perceived comfort of choosing paper-based triple stimulus vouchers

Purpose: To alleviate the effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the economy, Taiwan introduced a stimulus package in the form of triple stimulus vouchers. Despite intense promotion to opt for the vouchers in digital form, Taiwanese public overwhelmingly chose the paper form. This study considers the reasons that influenced their decision comfort in choosing paper rather than digital vouchers based on two categories: rational (promotion depth and ease of use) and behavioral economics factors (analysis paralysis, mental accounting related to ease of tracking expenses, social influence and payment habits). Design/methodology/approach: Partial least squares (PLS) method was utilized to analyze survey information obtained from 183 individuals who chose paper vouchers. Findings: Individuals consider rational and behavioral economic factors in their perception of decision comfort while choosing paper over digital vouchers. Decision comfort is driven more by behavioral economics than rational factors such as ease of use. Interestingly, analysis paralysis related to paper vouchers has the greatest impact, but it positively influences decision comfort, indicating that Taiwanese people view paper vouchers as a safe haven in the midst of uncertainties and information overload. Therefore, when designing public policies or promotional campaigns, possible behavior outcomes should be considered from both rational and behavioral economic perspectives. Originality/value: This study provides insights into the dynamics of how individuals arrive at their decision of opting paper vouchers over digital ones and offers theoretical contributions related to system adoption and behavioral economics. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.