COVID‐19 and Motivated Reasoning: The Influence of Knowledge on COVID‐Related Policy and Health Behavior
Published online on November 27, 2021
Abstract
["Social Science Quarterly, Volume 102, Issue 5, Page 2341-2359, September 2021. ", "\n\nObjective\nThe spread of misinformation about COVID‐19 severely influences the governments' ability to address the COVID‐19 pandemic. This study explores the predictors of accurate beliefs about COVID‐19 and its influence on COVID‐related policy and behavior.\n\n\nMethods\nData from an original survey collected by Lucid in July 2020 are used. Ordinary Least Squares regression (OLS) is used to predict accurate beliefs about COVID‐19. Ordered logistic regression models are estimated to examine the relationship between COVID‐19 knowledge, policy preferences, and health behavior intentions.\n\n\nResults\nIdeology and education were found to have a positive effect on knowledge about COVID‐19. Moreover, low levels of knowledge about COVID‐19 were found to reduce support for mandatory vaccination policy and willingness to get a coronavirus vaccine when available.\n\n\nConclusion\nThese findings will help policymakers develop communication strategies for the public on the coronavirus vaccination.\n\n"]