Research Study of COVID-19 on UGA's Campus
Research Study of COVID-19 on UGA's Campus
UGA Student's COVID Perceptions
UGA Student's COVID Perceptions
UGA Student's COVID Perceptions
My Role
Researcher
Data Analyst
Project
Team-based
Course-based
Timeline
4 months (2021)
Tools
IBM SPSS, Qualtrics Survey, and Excel
Overview
Overview
In late 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, leading to the closure of college campuses and reshaping the daily lives of all students nationwide. When students returned, they were greeted with a whole new perception of school with the virus creating an anomalous experience. This student-led research study examines students' perceptions of UGA's handling of the pandemic and explores the intersection of reliable info, vaccinations, and pandemic-related behaviors.
In late 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, leading to the closure of college campuses and reshaping the daily lives of all students nationwide. When students returned, they were greeted with a whole new perception of school with the virus creating an anomalous experience. This student-led research study examines students' perceptions of UGA's handling of the pandemic and explores the intersection of reliable info, vaccinations, and pandemic-related behaviors.
Problem
Problem
Amidst the pandemic, UGA had to navigate the challenge of balancing safety mesaures and maintaining a functional campus environment. As the academic season came around, students, faculty, and the community began questioning the effectiveness of the safety measures laid out, trust in communication sources, and the influence of vaccinations on the perception the pandemic's threat.
Amidst the pandemic, UGA had to navigate the challenge of balancing safety mesaures and maintaining a functional campus environment. As the academic season came around, students, faculty, and the community began questioning the effectiveness of the safety measures laid out, trust in communication sources, and the influence of vaccinations on the perception the pandemic's threat.
Research Methodology
Research Methodology
This research, conducted in November 2021 by the Athens-Clarke County Research Association, sought to:
Evaluate students' perceptions of UGA's COVID-19 response.
Assess whether students received pandemic information from reliable sources.
Investigate the impact of vaccinations on students’ views of the pandemic.
This research, conducted in November 2021 by the Athens-Clarke County Research Association, sought to:
Evaluate students' perceptions of UGA's COVID-19 response.
Assess whether students received pandemic information from reliable sources.
Investigate the impact of vaccinations on students’ views of the pandemic.
The research utilized a mixed-methods approach beginning with an exploratory phase, where secondary data was collected from articles on vaccinations, mask mandates, and the effects of the pandemic on campus life. The exploratory phases provided foundational insights that informed the creation of our survey, distributed through academic emails and group chats, targeting the UGA student population.
The data-gathering phase began with our survey of the student body population. Consisting of 14-18 questions, depending on branching logic, with both open-ended and close-ended formats. The three core areas that were addressed by our survey were student's view on UGA's pandemic response, sources of pandemic-related information, and the impact of vaccination status.
By using a non-probability, convenience sampling method we had 105 usable responses with an 83% response rate. We analyzed the data by using chi-square tests, bar charts, and graphs in order to identify correlation.
The research utilized a mixed-methods approach beginning with an exploratory phase, where secondary data was collected from articles on vaccinations, mask mandates, and the effects of the pandemic on campus life. The exploratory phases provided foundational insights that informed the creation of our survey, distributed through academic emails and group chats, targeting the UGA student population.
The data-gathering phase began with our survey of the student body population. Consisting of 14-18 questions, depending on branching logic, with both open-ended and close-ended formats. The three core areas that were addressed by our survey were student's view on UGA's pandemic response, sources of pandemic-related information, and the impact of vaccination status.
By using a non-probability, convenience sampling method we had 105 usable responses with an 83% response rate. We analyzed the data by using chi-square tests, bar charts, and graphs in order to identify correlation.
Survey Results
Survey Results
Our survey sample consisted of students due to our methods of survey dispersal which were through academic email and group chats. 75% of our respondents were students aged 19-22, and ethnically was split between White and Asian students, each making up 43% of our respondents.
Our survey sample consisted of students due to our methods of survey dispersal which were through academic email and group chats. 75% of our respondents were students aged 19-22, and ethnically was split between White and Asian students, each making up 43% of our respondents.
We also asked the respondents for their political affiliation in order to gauge how politics could correlate to perceptions of COVID. A majority of respondents identified as Democratic (39%) or preferring not to disclose political affiliations (31%). "Other" political affiliation made up the next largest (16%) and Republican made up the smallest group at (14%)
We also asked the respondents for their political affiliation in order to gauge how politics could correlate to perceptions of COVID. A majority of respondents identified as Democratic (39%) or preferring not to disclose political affiliations (31%). "Other" political affiliation made up the next largest (16%) and Republican made up the smallest group at (14%)
Key Findings
Key Findings
UGA's COVID-19 Measures
Students' views on UGA's safety protocols revealed that they had mixed opinions on UGA's safety measures and believed that many areas with insufficient for maintaining a safe academic environment. Areas that were deemed most poorly handled by the school included mask usage, social distancing, in-person events, and enforcement of safety protocols.
Students' views on UGA's safety protocols revealed that they had mixed opinions on UGA's safety measures and believed that many areas with insufficient for maintaining a safe academic environment. Areas that were deemed most poorly handled by the school included mask usage, social distancing, in-person events, and enforcement of safety protocols.
What aspect(s) do you think UGA executed the most poorly?
Reliability of Information
An objective of this research was to see if respondents were getting their information from what they deemed as to be a "reliable" source. We quantitatively analyzed the relationship between whether people trust their news sources and if they believe they are up-to-date on current events. A chi-square test gave us an understanding that student’s trust in news sources is dependent on whether or not they believe the government is being transparent with their COVID-19 news.
An objective of this research was to see if respondents were getting their information from what they deemed as to be a "reliable" source. We quantitatively analyzed the relationship between whether people trust their news sources and if they believe they are up-to-date on current events. A chi-square test gave us an understanding that student’s trust in news sources is dependent on whether or not they believe the government is being transparent with their COVID-19 news.
How much do you trust [your main] news source?
Impact of Vaccinations
The relationship between a respondent being vaccinated and whether or not they believed that COVID-19 was a threat was one of the strongest compared to all other variables' relationships. Vaccinated individuals saw the virus as more of a threat than unvaccinated individuals.
The relationship between a respondent being vaccinated and whether or not they believed that COVID-19 was a threat was one of the strongest compared to all other variables' relationships. Vaccinated individuals saw the virus as more of a threat than unvaccinated individuals.
However, 65% of respondents who contracted the COVID-19 virus still believed that the virus itself was not a threat to them. Thus diminishing the importance of vaccinations which could serve as reasoning for choosing the vaccination or perceptions of vaccination effectiveness.
However, 65% of respondents who contracted the COVID-19 virus still believed that the virus itself was not a threat to them. Thus diminishing the importance of vaccinations which could serve as reasoning for choosing the vaccination or perceptions of vaccination effectiveness.
Students who HAVE contracted COVID threat of virus (sample size 20)
Students who HAVE NOT contracted COVID threat of virus (sample size 98)
Conclusion/Recommendations
Conclusion & Recommendations
Conclusion
Members of the UGA population had mixed reactions to the school's handling of the pandemic, specifically in areas such as social distancing and safety protocol enforcement. We also found that trust in reliable news sources and government transparency were key influencers for students' awareness and perceptions of the virus. Furthermore, the strongest correlation was found between vaccination status and perception of the virus, with vaccinated individuals perceiving the pandemic with more gravity than unvaccinated individuals.
Members of the UGA population had mixed reactions to the school's handling of the pandemic, specifically in areas such as social distancing and safety protocol enforcement. We also found that trust in reliable news sources and government transparency were key influencers for students' awareness and perceptions of the virus. Furthermore, the strongest correlation was found between vaccination status and perception of the virus, with vaccinated individuals perceiving the pandemic with more gravity than unvaccinated individuals.
Reccomendations
Through our research, we found four major areas of emphasis for the school in order to provide a sufficient on-campus experience in the midst of the pandemic.
Through our research, we found four major areas of emphasis for the school in order to provide a sufficient on-campus experience in the midst of the pandemic.
Enhancing social distancing measures in common areas like the dining halls and student centers
Strengthen contact tracing protocols for positive cases to help maintain the spread in direct contact points
Improve access to sanitation by implementing hand sanitizer stations and portable sinks
Focus on enforcing safety measures in high-population environments such as sporting events, dining halls, and large lectures
Enhancing social distancing measures in common areas like the dining halls and student centers
Strengthen contact tracing protocols for positive cases to help maintain the spread in direct contact points
Improve access to sanitation by implementing hand sanitizer stations and portable sinks
Focus on enforcing safety measures in high-population environments such as sporting events, dining halls, and large lectures
My Role
Researcher
Data Analyst
Project
Team-Based
Course-Led
Timeline
4 months (2021)
Tools
IBM SPSS, Qualtrics Survey, and Excel