Social psychological approach to Covid 19 pandemic: A mixed method study

The aim of this dissertation is a) to describe social psychological variables those play a role in complying with new norms of COVID 19 pandemic, and b) to examine the relationships between them. For this purpose, three studies were carried out in which a mixed method research design was used. In the first study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the medical personnel (N=12) who performed the filiation task. As a result of the thematic analysis, nine themes (cognition, experience, emotion, trust, morality, conformity, organization, home, and culture) were reached. Based on these themes, and Culture x Person x Situation approach the variables to be examined in the experimental study (N = 141) were decided, and the hypotheses related to these variables were formulated. In the first experiment, a 2 (place: house, outside) x 2 (social proximity: neighbor, friend) factorial design was used; perception of risk, optimism bias and participation in cultural rituals during pandemic were assesed by self-reports and controlled for in the ANCOVA. Neither place nor social proximity revealed significant effect on compliance, however, significant associations between compliance and other variables were found. In addition, moral disengagement as well as adherence to cultural traditions moderate the relationship between perceived risk and compliance. After the data of the first experiment were collected, most of the pandemic measures were abolished, and the controlling for the pandemic was left to the moral desicions of individuals. Therefore, we conducted a second study to test the relationships we found in this new context. Again, a 2x2 factorial design was applied, but this time moral emphasis (deontologist vs. beneficiary) and organization type (wedding vs. meeting) were manipulated. Only organization type revealed significant effect on compliance if participation in cultural rituals during pandemic was added in the analysis as a covariant variable. In addition, it was found that perceived risk has a significant relationship to compliance. Moreover, perceived grievance mediated the relationship between organization type and compliance. In summary, this research revealed that person (perception of risk, morality) and culture (participation in cultural rituals) play role on compliance with the precautions taken during pandemic. The findings were discussed in the light of the relevant literature.