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07 April 2021 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo istock
Social media discussions have provided a lens on how people are dealing with and talking about COVID-19. This has given risk communication new insights into online audiences.

The lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on society presented the experts at the University of the Free State (UFS) with an opportunity – to conduct a scientific study by analysing our social media data in order to assist government health communicators to reflect on their communication strategies and, in turn, gain new perspectives from the general social media user (public). 

The study – led by Herkulaas Combrink, a data and medical scientist in the UFS initiative for Digital Futures, and Prof. Katinka de Wet, medical sociologist in both the UFS initiative for Digital Futures and the Department of Sociology at the UFS – uses “real-time snapshots of online interactions as a means to augment more traditional methods of conducting research on a given topic; in this case, responses to COVID-19”, said Combrink. 

The findings and ongoing work of the research project were presented to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications. “During this meeting, critical engagement took place around risk communication and areas where we can strengthen this research,” said Combrink. Several international influential risk communicators on the African continent were present. 

Digital science at the forefront 

The opportunity to pursue this study was the result of Herkulaas Combrink’s secondment to the Free State Department of Health (FSDOH), where he identified the need to develop additional analytics for the already existing processes in risk communication in order to assist various communication strategies linked to developments regarding COVID-19 infections.  

Combrink also said “because the analysis of social media data does not normally form part of the traditional toolbox of investigation for this type of work, this novel application serves as an addition to the already existing communication analytics”. This research project will strengthen the level of cooperation between the UFS, other institutions, and the FSDOH to “synergistically strengthen communication strategies in relation to COVID-19”. 

By looking at how new knowledge around COVID-19 is developing the method (of analysing social media data), is to stay abreast of trending and burning issues on open-source social media platforms. “It is important to conduct this work using well-defined scientific methodology to extract, explore, analyse, and report on the data,” Combrink says. 

Given the rapidity with which new knowledge around COVID-19 is developing all over the globe, this method lends itself to staying abreast of emergent and burning issues that are trending on open-source social media sites. 

Variety of stakeholders needed

The magnitude of the research study required the involvement of stakeholders from different institutions. “A variety of stakeholders from different institutions are needed not only to contextualise the data, but also to provide social and technical input to solve the problem,” Combrink said.  

Experts included in the project are Dr Vukosi Marivate from the Department of Computer Science at the University of Pretoria, Dr Ming-Han Mothloung from the Department of Community Health at the UFS and the FSDOH, and Dr Samuel Mokoena, Priscilla Monyobo, Mondli Mvambi, and Elke de Witt from the FSDOH. “Without this core team, the work would not have been contextually relevant,” Combrink said. 

News Archive

Programme: Intervarsity: Kovsies vs Pukke, 3 & 4 August
2007-08-03

Vrydag, 3 Augustus / Friday, 3 August

Netbal / Netball

Fanie du toit-sportterrein / Sports fields

16:00

Soetdoring vs Minjonet

 

Emily Hobhouse vs Eikenhof

17:00

Vergeet-my-nie vs Wanda

 

Bellatrix vs Sonnedou

18:00

Wag-‘n-Bietjie vs Heide

 

Roosmaryn vs Vergeet-my-nie(pukke)

SOKKER / SOCCER

Fanie du toit-sportterrein / Sports fields

16:00

Dames / Ladies

18:00

Mans 2de span / Mens 2nd team

20:00

UV 1/UFS 1 vs ALS PUK Tawana

Muurbal / Squash

Binnenshuis Sportsentrum / Indoor Sports Centre

18:00

 

Vlugbal / Volleyball

Binnenshuis Sportsentrum / Indoor Sports Centre

18:00

Mans / Men

Basketbal / Basketball

Binnenshuis Sportsentrum / Indoor Sports Centre

20:00

Mans / Men

Saterdag, 4 Augustus / Saturday 4 August

Netbal / Netball

Fanie du Toit Sportterrein / Sport Fields

08:30

UV 0/19B/UFS U/19B vs PUK3

09:30

UV 0/21 / UFS U/21 vs PUK2

 

UV 0/19A/UFS U/19A vs PUK 0/19 / U/19

11:30

KOVSIES 1 vs PUK1

Skaak / Chess

Natuurwetenskapgebou / Natural Science Building

09:00

 

Gholf / Golf

Potch

06:30

 

Hokkie / Hockey

Astro 1 & 2

08:30

Wag-‘n-Bietjie 1 vs Wag-‘n-Bietjie

 

Sonnedou vs Bellatrix 1

09:20

Roosmaryn vs Heide 1

 

Soetdoring vs Kasteel 1

10:10

Vergeet-my-Nie vs Republiek 1

 

Emily Hobhouse vs Dinki 1

11:30

UV 2/UFS 2 vs PUK 2 Dames/Ladies

13:00

UV 1/UFS 1 VS PUK 1 Dames/Ladies

Rugby

Olënpark A & B, Potch Dorp

08:30

Veritas vs De Wilgers                               

 

Reitz vs Villagers

09:45

Vishuis vs Overs

 

JBM vs Patria

10:00

Colts vs PUK Uitnodigingspan / Invitational  team

11:00

Karee vs Veritas (PUK)

 

Armentum vs Heimat

11:10

0/19’s / u/19’s

12:30

0/21’s / u/21’s

 

Ritsims vs Puk Jongspan

14:20

Irawas vs Ibbies

16:30

SHIMLAS VS PUK 1

Tennis

Fanie Du Toit-sportterrein / Sports Fields

08:30

Mans & Dames /  Men & Ladies

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