The World Health Organization has declared a COVID-19 ‘infodemic’: an overabundance of information which is often mixed with rumours and misinformation. In light of this, CWTS researchers Giovanni Colavizza and Karlijn Roex are conducting a study in which they investigate how science is communicated during the coronavirus pandemic. All academic researchers, whether they are studying COVID-19 or not, are invited to take part in a 10-minute survey.

The COVID-19 infodemic presents a real problem: an overabundance of often unreliable information creates uncertainty and anxiety. On the one hand, it is vital that experts and policy-makers know how to effectively communicate advice, while on the other hand, the public must be well-informed, too, if they are to act in such a way as to contain the spread of the virus. Scientists play a pivotal role in the flow of information because they need to keep themselves informed and are acting as experts by communicating information.

The project

Giovanni Colavizza and Karlijn Roex’s project, Collecting systematic survey data on scientists’ information-seeking and information-spreading behaviour in a time of crisis, aims to inform governments and experts with reliable, actionable information. They will conduct systematic, anonymous and regular surveys among scientists from all disciplines and investigate how they are adapting their information-seeking and -spreading behaviour to the unfolding of this infodemic, and will also include the role of different media. Colavizza and Roex want to share early insights with not just governments but also health officials and experts in order to help them improve their communication practices. They furthermore expect that the data gathered in their project will be used in future studies concerning the information behaviour of scientists in times of crisis.

More about the project

Participate in the survey

All academic researchers, regardless of their discipline or research topic, are invited to participate in the 10-minute survey. By participating, you help us collecting crucial data that would otherwise be lost. In order to participate, you can proceed to the survey by following the link below:

Take part in the survey

‘Corona: fast-track data’ grant by the NWO

Colavizza and Roex’s project is one of thirty proposals that was granted funding in April 2020 in a special NWO call for research into issues of a non-medical or healthcare-related nature that arise in society during the corona crisis.