Open AccessIdeal types’ strategies related to handling early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic: A thematic analysis of comments from an international survey
Author(s) -
Stinne Glasdam,
Sigrid Stjernswärd
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
current sociology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.765
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1461-7064
pISSN - 0011-3921
DOI - 10.1177/00113921221090251
Subject(s) - ideal (ethics) , pandemic , ideal type , covid-19 , thematic analysis , sociology , entertainment , point (geometry) , public relations , qualitative research , social science , political science , law , medicine , geometry , mathematics , disease , pathology , virology , outbreak , infectious disease (medical specialty)
People (re)act differently when facing the pandemic. Multiple opinions about COVID-19 and related issues prevail, both in personal meetings and in (social) media. This article aims to illuminate different ideal types and handling strategies in early stages of the pandemic. A thematic Braun and Clark, and Weber inspired analysis of qualitative data from an international web-based survey was carried out in two steps. First, five ideal types related to handling the COVID-19 pandemic were constructed: the Stickler for the rules, the Challenger, the Fact hunter, the Idealist, and the Entertainer. Second, the ideal types were represented throughout four themes: Divided opinions on politico-medico restrictions, Multifaceted picture of the pandemic, Social media as a lookout point and source of insight, and The future between hope and fear. The results illustrated the complexity of people’s understanding of, (re)actions to and handling of the pandemic.