Understanding Online Discussions of Key Public Health Issues Using a Mixed-Methods Approach

Abstract

There has been a growing movement against vaccination in the United States. The extent to which misinformation and fear fuel decision making has been established by researchers yet needs further empirical understanding. This study aimed to look at one small facet of the provision of information by and for lay people, which was the discussion of vaccination messages on the Internet. Because parents are responsible for obtaining their children’s immunizations, we focused our investigation on discussions of vaccination on top parenting blogs. This case study describes the mixed-methods approach utilized in capturing these discussions.

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