The Usability of Face Coverings Used to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19

Objective To describe the perceived usability and usability problems associated with face coverings used to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Background Since public health experts have now identified the appropriate use of facemasks as one of the critical elements in an effective COVID mitigation strategy, understanding how people use and care for them has become important. Method Data were collected via a survey that was shared on social media to which 2148 people responded. Participants were asked to identify the category class of the face covering they most often wear, rate its usability, answer demographic information, and questions about their mask use and hygiene, and identify issues they may suffer in relation to face cover use. Results Overall, users appear to perceive their face coverings favorably from a usability and satisfaction standpoint, even though almost two-thirds of users indicated that they experienced discomfort and problems with glasses fogging with the most popular mask types. When considering demographic information, users’ political party affiliation appears related to how they perceive the usability of their face covering. Conclusion Designers should work to improve the fit and comfort properties of protective masks; evidence suggests the System Usability Scale may be a useful tool in those efforts. Application Understanding mask design and behavioral issues related to their use can help in the development of masks and will maximize their acceptance and effectiveness in the field.

Flying Flags at Weddings in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Nationalism and the Limits of Flag Power

This study examines the practice of ethnic communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina flying a state, entity, religious, or foreign flag at wedding ceremonies in public spaces. The wedding custom is analyzed through the lens of Hannah Arendt’s discussion of the way nationalism in the modern era links family and state. After a tragic war, flag power in this context appears to exacerbate nationalism and ethnic tensions in a polyethnic society trapped in a dysfunctional state structure created by the Dayton Accords. The empirical study finds that flag power does not, in fact, privilege ethnic solidarity over national solidarity to the degree that social and political theory would have us imagine. The national identity of being Bosnian is more likely to be exemplified. A clustered, stratified, random sample of 2,500 subjects over the age of eighteen was drawn from the country’s population, including the two entities, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska and Brčko District. Survey questions involving face-to-face structured questions asked participants whether flags were flown at their weddings, which flags were flown, and attitudes toward the wedding custom. Variations by age, religiosity, education, ethnicity, type of flag flown, and political party affiliation are reported and interpreted.

Profiles of US Hispanics Unvaccinated for COVID-19

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted Hispanics in the US with increased rates of SARS-Cov2 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. The objective of this report was to characterize the demographics and beliefs of unvaccinated Hispanics to help address their concerns that lead to vaccine hesitancy. Methods: Of 1,011 potential participants from a national online panel, 22.3% (N = 225, 51.6% female, age = 40.5) met inclusion criteria of Hispanic adults and not receiving at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The 30-item survey included items about demographics, political affiliations, sources of news (e.g., Fox vs. CNN), reasons for being unvaccinated, and ratings (0 = strongly disagree, 100 = strongly agree) of 10 controversial statements regarding COVID-19. Results: Over three-fifths (62.6%) identified side effects and safety concerns while almost one-third (30.5%) a lack of efficacy as their top reasons for being unvaccinated. Agreement to statement: The developers of the COVID-19 vaccine rushed the development and cut-corners, was rated highest (63.22) which was significantly (p < .001) higher than the other nine statements (e.g., The COVID-19 vaccine does not work). Many vaccine attitudes differed significantly by political party affiliation and some by gender and news source. Republicans (59.9 + 4.2) scored higher than Democrats (38.5 + 4.2, p < .001) to the statement: If I have already had COVID-19, I do not need the vaccine. Conclusions: This study identified heterogeneity in COVID-19 vaccine attitudes among Hispanics. Further research is needed to determine if the subgroups identified are differentially receptive to interventions to facilitate reconsideration of prior vaccination decisions.

Correlates of Levels of Willingness to Engage in Climate Change Actions in the United States

While the majority of the American public believe climate change is occurring and are worried, few are engaged in climate change action. In this study, we assessed factors associated with the level of willingness to engage in climate change actions using an online, longitudinal US study of adults. Climate change action outcomes included the level of willingness to post materials online, take political actions, talk with peers about climate change, and donate to or help an organization. Predictors included climate change attitudes, environmental attitudes, political ideology, political party affiliation, and demographic variables. Most (72%) of the 644 respondents only talked about climate change with peers a few times a year or less, though 65% were very or extremely worried about climate change. Many respondents indicated a willingness to do somewhat or a lot more, from 38% willing to talk to peers to 25% for willing to take political actions. In multinomial regression models, the Climate Change Concern scale was strongly and consistently associated with willingness to engage in climate change action. These findings indicate a need to both identify those who are willing to act and finding activities that fit with their interests and availability.

Contrasting Public Perceptions of Government versus Certified Public Accounting Firm Oversight of Relief Packages

This study examines public perceptions of potential overseers charged with ensuring that relief packages are distributed to the intended audience. In an experiment, we assess perceptions of trustworthiness and fraud reduction ability between government and public accounting firm employees in the context of relief package oversight. While actual ability is important, public perceptions of overseer ability is also essential for relief packages to be fully effective. We find that people, regardless of their political party affiliation, rate public accounting firm employees as more trustworthy and better able to reduce fraud than government employees. For government oversight, participant political party affiliation influences perceptions of employee ability and is mediated by general trust in government. These findings suggest public accounting firms are a viable alternative to increase public perceptions that relief packages are distributed effectively. Initial evidence suggests educating the public on the role of career government employees may raise public opinion.

Improving the usability of climate indicator visualizations through diagnostic design principles

Visual climate indicators have become a popular way to communicate trends in important climate phenomena. Producing accessible visualizations for a general audience is challenging, especially when many are based on graphics designed for scientists, present complex and abstract concepts, and utilize suboptimal design choices. This study tests whether diagnostic visualization guidelines can be used to identify communication shortcomings for climate indicators and to specify effective design modifications. Design guidelines were used to diagnose problems in three hard-to-understand indicators, and to create three improved modifications per indicator. Using online surveys, the efficacy of the modifications was tested in a control versus treatment setup that measured the degree to which respondents understood, found accessible, liked, and trusted the graphics. Furthermore, we assessed whether respondents’ numeracy, climate attitudes, and political party affiliation affected the impact of design improvements. Results showed that simplifying modifications had a large positive effect on understanding, ease of understanding, and liking, but not trust. Better designs improved understanding similarly for people with different degrees of numerical capacity. Moreover, while climate skepticism was associated with less positive subjective responses and greater mistrust toward climate communication, design modification improved understanding equally for people across the climate attitude and ideological spectrum. These findings point to diagnostic design guidelines as a useful tool for creating more accessible, engaging climate graphics for the public.

Determinants of Attitudes Toward the Scientific Community: Confidence in the Press as a Mediator of Political Party Affiliation

Drawing on 10 sets of data gathered in the General Social Survey between 2000 and 2018, this study examined whether confidence in the press mediated political party affiliation as a determinant of attitudes toward the scientific community. The study observed full mediation effects in three of five instances in which Republicans occupied the White House, with partial or no mediation observed at other points. Overall findings showed that males, White respondents, and those who had completed more years of school, as well as Democrats and those who indicated higher levels of confidence in the press, tended to report greater levels of confidence in the scientific community. The study discusses quantitative results in light of increased partisanship and derisive attacks on news media.