Analysis of network public opinion on COVID-19 epidemic based on the WSR theory

Kun Yang; Junqi Zhu; Li Yang; Yu Lin; Xin Huang; YunPeng Li

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.1104031

Analysis of network public opinion on COVID-19 epidemic based on the WSR theory

Front Public Health. 2023 Jan 13:10:1104031. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1104031. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Kun Yang¹, Junqi Zhu¹, Li Yang¹, Yu Lin¹, Xin Huang¹, YunPeng Li¹

Affiliation

¹ School of Economics and Management, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, Anhui, China.

Abstract

Objective: To obtain the influencing factors of public opinion reactions and to construct a basic framework of the factors causing the occurrence of online public opinion in the epidemic area.

Methods: The hot news comments on microblogs during the epidemic in Shanghai were collected and analyzed with qualitative analysis, grounded theory, and the "Wuli-Shili-Renli" (WSR) methodology as an auxiliary method.

Results: (1) Three core categories of the Wuli system, the Shili system, and the Renli system, 15 main categories, and 86 categories that influence the development of network public opinion are obtained. (2) WSR Elements Framework Of Network Public Opinion (WSR-EFONPO) is established. (3) The WSR-EFONPO is explained.

Conclusion: The framework of factors for the occurrence of network public opinion is proposed, and the development process of network public opinion under COVID-19 is sorted out, which is of great theoretical value in guiding the public in the epidemic area to form reasonable behavior.

Keywords: COVID-19; WSR methodology; grounded theory; network public opinion; qualitative analysis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / epidemiology
China / epidemiology
Epidemics*
Humans
Public Opinion

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Social Science Innovation and Development Research Project of Anhui Province (Grant No. 2020CX174).