The paper looks at how people’s political views and where they get their news from (like TV or social media) can influence what they think about science and getting vaccinated, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Focusing on Hungary, a country known for strong political opinions, the researchers found that folks who lean more conservative might be more doubtful about science and vaccines. However, it’s not just about whether someone supports the government or the opposition; it turns out that watching TV or browsing social media can also change how much trust they put in vaccines. The study suggests that convincing people to trust vaccines might have more to do with addressing their deeper beliefs and where they get their information than just telling them to get vaccinated.
Here are a few ideas that could help you structuring your presentation. (Of course, feel free to change anything and adapt it to your needs/ideas.)
1. Introduction (2 minutes)
Briefly introduce the topic and its relevance in the current global context.
State the objective: To compare how political ideologies and media consumption in Hungary and the United States influence public trust in science and vaccine skepticism.
2. Background Information (2 minutes)
Overview of vaccine skepticism and its implications for public health.
The role of political ideologies and media in shaping public opinion on vaccines.
3. The Hungarian Context (3 minutes)
Highlight key findings from the study on Hungary:
Influence of conservative ideologies on skepticism towards science and vaccines.
The negligible direct impact of partisan alignment on vaccine trust.
Significant role of media consumption habits in shaping vaccine attitudes.
Discuss the Hungarian government’s efforts to mitigate skepticism and promote vaccination.
4. The United States Context (3 minutes)
Discuss the US situation regarding political polarization and its impact on public trust in science and vaccines.
Compare and contrast media consumption habits in the US and their influence on vaccine skepticism.
Mention governmental and non-governmental efforts to address vaccine hesitancy.
5. Comparative Analysis (2 minutes)
Draw parallels and highlight differences between the Hungarian and US contexts.
Discuss how political and media environments in both countries contribute to the public’s attitude towards vaccines.
6. Conclusion and Reflections (1 minute)
Summarize key insights from the comparative study.
Reflect on the importance of understanding the influence of political ideologies and media on vaccine skepticism for effective public health communication and policy-making.
For the discussion, I would suggest you to confront these results with your personal US and/or Korean experiences, but feel free to ask any questions you like.
Please, don’t forget to send me your quiz question(s) one day before your presentation! (So I can insert them into my form.) You can include your questions for the discussion at the end of your presentation.
