Exposure to Covid-19 Message Contents and Public Attitude towards Obeying Social Distancing Policy
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REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL GEOGRAPHICAL EDUCATION
ISSN: 2146-0353 ● © RIGEO ● 11(4), WINTER, 2021
www.rigeo.org Research Article
Exposure to Covid-19 Message Contents
and Public Attitude towards Obeying Social
Distancing Policy
Susie Perbawasari1 Wawan Setiawan2
Lecturer of Communication Science, Universitas Lecturer of Communication Science, Universitas
Padjadjaran, Indonesia Padjadjaran, Indonesia
Aat Ruchiat Nugraha 3
Lecturer of Communication Science, Universitas
Padjadjaran, Indonesia
1Corresponding Author: E-mail: susie.perbawasari@unpad.ac.id
Abstract
Message content is crucial part of information dissemination that people use in communication and
interaction. Making the message content delivered via mass media and new media concerning social
live improvement, including health issues, more varied could be a preventive course during a pandemic.
Health-related message concerning the prevention of Covid-19 spread is public basic right, i.e. to get
safety and guarantee from the government. Such message could be used as a guideline to face the
new normal lifestyle. This study aims to discover the extent of correlation between Covid-19-related
message contents and public attitude towards conforming to social distancing policies, using Cognitive-
Response Theory. This study employed correlational quantitative method on 384 respondents. Data was
collected using questionnaires, observation, interviews, and literature study. Questionnaires were
administered online via a link made on Google Form to Bandung City residents. The findings showed that
the contents of messages on Covid-19 had significant correlation with public attitude in general. This study
concluded that there is a correlation between the content of Covid-19-related messages and public
attitudes towards conforming with social distancing policies. In other words, the more exposure to Covid-
19-related information the people get, the better their attitude towards practicing social distancing. The
authors recommend that information on Covid-19 should be delivered in more interesting ways and in
real time so that the public would believe it and would be more willing to perform necessary health
protocols.
Keywords
exposure, information, attitude, social distancing, Covid-19
To cite this article: Perbawasari, S,; Setiawan, W,; Nugraha, A, R. (2021) Exposure To Covid-19 Message Contents
And Public Attitude Towards Obeying Social Distancing Policy. Review of International Geographical Education
(RIGEO), 11(4), 1094-1104. doi: 10.48047/rigeo.11.04.103
Submitted: 07-05-2021 ● Revised: 12-05-2021 ● Accepted: 19-05-2021Perbawasari, S,; Setiawan, W,; Nugraha, A, R. (2021) Exposure To Covid-19 Message Contents And …
Introduction
Currently, the emergence of novel human coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has become a global health
problem. The virus causes “acute” infection on human respiratory tract. It is disseminated from one
medium to another through droplets and contact with contaminated skins or surfaces. The
incubation period of the virus is between 2-10 days(1). The massive spread of corona virus (COVID-
19) has caused all sorts of problems in all nations in the world, including Indonesia. Since the central
government (Indonesian Ministry of Health) announced in early March 2020 that some Indonesian
citizens were infected by corona virus, the nation has plunged into a panic state. Some people
speculated about the statistics and data published by the government. Moreover, Covid-19 has
spread to all 34 provinces of Indonesia. Most regencies/cities have found positive cases of Covid-
19 in their regions. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases, caused by acute respiratory
syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), were first reported in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, late
December 2019(2)..
Concerning this, information dissemination on the danger of Covid-19 and the efforts of social
distancing to cut the spread of the virus is continuously done by the government and non-
government organizations via various media to attract public attention and to ensure that the
efforts are successful. Social distancing is a prevention measure by distancing oneself from other
individuals for at least 1 meter from one’s position. Studies showed that social distancing is an
efficient way to cut off the spread of a virus (3). However, some people have not been practicing
social distancing in Indonesia for various reasons, including economic, religious, and cultural
reasons, and partially understood “medical beliefs”.
Various ways of information dissemination that the Government has been using to spread
messages concerning Covid-19 include updates on the number of persons under supervision,
patients under supervision, and Covid-19 positive patients live on national television. The
Government also opened a health information, communication, and consultation through call
centers (SMS, WhatsApp, Hotline numbers), website, public service announcement, printed paper
announcement (billboard, banner, posters, flyers). Another information dissemination that the
Government did is social distancing policy.
The information dissemination is part of the basic services that governments have to provide to
their people. Part of the government’s duty to protect the citizen during the period of national
pandemic is to provide clear, easy to understand, and easy to digest information for all people
as their reference for disease prevention efforts in the society. The content of messages
concerning Covid-19 is designed and delivered in such a way so that it can be easily understood
by the general public. Since cases of Corona virus infection is blowing up and reported excessively
by mass media, the people are worried. Their worries are due to psychological effects of the news.
Psychosomatic symptoms may appear if the public did not limit their activities of accessing social
media during the Covid-19 pandemic (4). Information provided in mass media and social media
explores the details of daily events pertaining to Covid-19 development and it negatively affects
public’s psychology in the new normal era.
The image people get from information concerning Covid-19 development could become a
problem because the way a message is composed and delivered in media can be a reference
for the people to know and understand an issue. In the modern age, and particularly during
pandemic, everyone needs mass media and social media that indirectly shape public’s attitude
towards a topic. That is the reason many broadcasting institutions produce positive broadcasts,
with an expectation that the broadcasts would have greater positive impacts on the audience (5)
Meanwhile, the social media which is limitless in terms of accessibility and which allows everyone
to share their comments and opinions has become a powerful information dissemination entity.
Nowadays, the quality of public health during Covid-19 pandemic is relatively good. However,
the dissemination of messages in mass media and social media might disrupt the flow of
information that discusses Covid-19 in the appropriate light. Such disruption may cause concerns
and worry among the people. The use of digital media platforms in disseminating information and
government policies (6.). could be an effective means of communication if handled optimally.
Interesting content and creative display in social media platforms can offer unique value that
people who consume the messages can enjoy. Meanwhile, the content of messages
disseminated through mass media, which is broadcasted regularly in news and press conferences,
has presented a polemic for the government as the producer of that information. This is
unfortunate because disseminating information at the same time through mass media might
1095© RIGEO ● Review of International Geographical Education 11(4), WINTER, 2021
facilitate the people to understand the pandemic using the knowledge about Covid-19 they
received from the mass media. Studies show that knowledge about Covid-19 prevention has
significant positive effect, particularly based on gender (7).
Considering that information about how to handle Covid-19 keeps changing, in terms of both its
development and its effects, some people decided to not obey the health protocol campaign
proposed by the World Health Organization and the government. The information on Covid-19
spreads quickly in social media. Several studies show that social media culture in Indonesia could
serve as instructors that educate the people and stimulate researches concerning Covid-19(8).
However, it cannot be denied that the ease of communicating through digital media has often
been misused for spreading false information (9).
To attract the public attention, Covid-19 messages that the government delivers should really
focus on the content. The content of Covid-19 messages should be well-planned so that it could
be easily understood and create meaningful changes in the targeted people’s cognitive,
affective, and attitude. Delivering the message content directly to the audience through mass
media has its own problems. So far, explanation about Covid-19 is no longer broadcasted live or
through press conference in television. In those broadcasts, the spoke-person for Covid-19 task
force only delivers a summary of Covid-19 development in Indonesia, focusing more on the
number of healthy, infected, and deceased Covid-19 patients. This information is then repeated
in various national news and online media. Information exposure that used to be systematic and
detailed now becomes a limited summary of Covid-19 development in Indonesia.
Referring to cognitive response theory, which states that an individual will behave according to
the information he is exposed to, particularly during national health pandemic, it is expected that
the public will follow the health protocol that the government has campaigned about. However,
some people still disobey the social distancing policies by gathering in public and disregarding
the risks of being exposed to or exposing others to Covid-19. This is in line with a finding that the
higher one’s cognitive dissonance is, the more factors one considers in choosing to act for or
against something (10). Cognitive response theory states that an individual receives information in
four stages, i.e. sensory input, central processing, information storage, information retrieveal, dan
utilization (11).
Bandung City is one of Indonesian cities with the most rapidly spreading Covid-19 cases, with
around 1775 people being infected (12). This is interesting to be studied because the polite and
friendly nature of Bandung City residents seems to have caused the city to be a red zone of Covid-
19 case. On 17 April 2020, West Java Province Government implemented Large Scale Social
Distancing policy, effective on 22 April 2020, as Covid-19 spread gets higher and higher in
Bandung region. Social distancing policy was followed by some and ignored by others. In other
words, some people obey and some people disobey the health protocol to stop the spread of
Covid-19 was stipulated on Bandung Regent’s Decree on Large Scale Social Distancing.
Correlation between the contents of Covid-19 related messages and public attitude towards
obeying social distancing policy is an interesting topic to be studied. Hence, based on the
background outlined above, this study aims to find out and describe whether or not the contents
of Covid-19 messages disseminated by various parties has correlation with Bandung people’s
attitude towards obeying social distancing. The problem is formulated in two research questions:
1) Is there any correlation between contents of Covid-19 messages and public attitude towards
obeying social distancing policy? and 2) Is there any correlation between the intensity of the
message and public attitude towards obeying social distancing policy?
Research Method
This study employed quantitative method, using correlational (associative) research. Correlational
research aims to discover the correlation between two or more variables (13), in this case the
correlation between contents of Covid-19 messages and public attitude towards obeying social
distancing policy. To be precise this study employed descriptive correlational method, in which
the data is described in tables and figures to make it easier to understand it.
Sample for this study was gathered using simple random sampling, implemented on people living
in Bandung City. Bandung City was decided as the parameter of this study. Social studies use
parameter for proportion estimation (%) (14). The sample size for proportion estimation was decided
using the following formula:
1096Perbawasari, S,; Setiawan, W,; Nugraha, A, R. (2021) Exposure To Covid-19 Message Contents And …
no with t2.(p.q)
n= no =
no
d2
1+
N
Notes:
n = Sample size
No = Assumed sample
t = Coefficient of Confidence
d = Sampling Error
p & q = Binominal Proportion Parameter
N = Size of Population
The size of sample for this study was calculated based on the total population of Bandung City,
obtained from 2018 Bandung City’s Statistics, of 2,500,000 people. Considering coefficient of
confidence (t) = 1.96 (95%), d = 0.05 and p & q = 50% : 50%, the sample size is:
no = (1.96)2. (0.50). (0.50)
(0.05)2
= 384.16 384
Thus:
n= 384
384
1+
2,500,000
= 383.99 384
The representative size of sample for this study should at least be 384 people.
Data used in this study were primary data, collected from questionnaires administered to
respondents through Google Form, and secondary data from literature study. The data is analyzed
using descriptive and non-parametric statistical analyses. Descriptive statistical analysis was
conducted to measure the frequency and percentage, while non-parametric statistical analysis
was conducted to measure the correlation between the contents of Covid-19 messages and
public attitude towards obeying social distancing policy. Both statistical analyses were done using
SPSS for Windows.
Based on the aim of the study, the conceptual framework, and the hypotheses, this study required
correlational analysis. Correlational analysis was done using Rank Spearman correlation method
since the scale used in this study was ordinal. Hypotheses of this study were Null Hypothesis (H0):
There is no correlation between the exposure to contents of Covid-19 messages and public
attitude towards obeying social distancing policy; and Working Hypothesis (H 1): There is correlation
between the exposure to contents of Covid-19 messages and public attitude towards obeying
social distancing policy.
Results and Discussion
Descriptive Statistics Analysis
Exposure to contents of messages concerning Covid-19, which are spread by the government
through National Covid-19 Prevention Task Force and broadcasted in national television can be
measured based on its indicators, i.e. contents, style, and appeal. Scores of question items are
calculated using score interval index, categorized in groups of 1-384 (Very Poor), 385-768 (Poor),
769-1152 (Fair), 1153-1536 (Good) and 1537-1920 (Very Good). The responses of 384 respondents
living in Bandung City is summarized in the following table:
1097© RIGEO ● Review of International Geographical Education 11(4), WINTER, 2021
Table 1.
Respondents’ Responses towards Exposure to Contents of Covid-19 Messages on Television
Frequency of Responses Score
Indicators SD D QA A SA
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
Content (X1)
Language Structure (X1.1)
Messages on the development of Covid-19 delivered by 5 26 130 183 40 1379
Covid-19 task force (the government) on television are easy
to understand
Messages on social distancing during pandemic delivered 5 25 124 172 58 1455
by Covid-19 task force (the government) on television are
informative (clear and unambiguous)
Messages delivered by Covid-19 task force (the 1 13 84 211 75 1498
government) on television contain information about the
protocol of social distancing
Messages delivered by Covid-19 task force (the 2 5 86 210 81 1515
government) on television contain suggestion to obey
social distancing policy
Average 1461.75 Good
Style (X1.2)
Messages delivered by Covid-19 task force (the 3 21 121 183 56 1421
government) on television are based on coordination
efforts with various health institutions
Messages delivered by Covid-19 task force (the 10 54 143 139 38 1293
government) on television are based on facts on the field
(among the people)
Messages delivered by Covid-19 task force (the 22 148 96 86 32 1010
government) on television concerning social distancing are
doubted
Messages delivered by Covid-19 task force (the 2 10 94 205 73 1489
government) on television are based on the consideration
that the information is urgent and the public needs to know
it
Average 1303.25 Good
Appeal (X1.3)
Messages on Covid-19 are delivered in a communicative 7 31 156 160 30 1327
way
Infographics (broadcast of picture message) on Covid-19 10 56 162 122 34 1266
development broadcasted on television by Covid-19 task
force are interesting/attractive
Messages on social distancing delivered by Covid-19 task 3 51 154 148 28 1299
force on television are short and to the point
Messages on Covid-19 are true (not false 11 40 139 155 39 1323
information/hoax)
Average 1303.75 Good
Intensity (X2)
Frequency (X2.1)
You always watch information on Covid-19 on television 37 118 118 89 22 1093
every day
During Covid-19 pandemic, you receive daily information 8 43 99 173 61 1388
on social distancing
Duration (X2.2)
In a day, you never hear information that persuade you to 46 178 72 65 23 993
obey social distancing policy
During Covid-19 pandemic, you always receive information 5 32 91 180 76 1442
on Covid-19 every day
Average 1229 Good
1098Perbawasari, S,; Setiawan, W,; Nugraha, A, R. (2021) Exposure To Covid-19 Message Contents And …
Note: SD: Strongly Disagree; D: Disagree; QA: Quite Agree; A: Agree; SA: Strongly Agree
Source: Processed data, 2020
Table 1 shows that respondents’ responses to contents of Covid-19 messages on television, which
consists of sub variables structure, style, appeal, frequency, and duration, are good. This indicates
that contents of Covid-19 messages in Indonesia, delivered by Covid-19 task force, are easy to
understand, clear, unambiguous, to the point, short, and communicative. Messages in
communication are realized in the form of language, both verbal and nonverbal. Messages
contains two interrelated aspects, i.e. symbol and content (meaning) (15). Contents of information
about Covid-19 on television, particularly during press conference from the government, have
provided good knowledge for the people. This is supported by the fact that the people wait for
the information on the development of Covid-19 cases (number of new cases and death) from
the National Covid-19 Prevention Task Force.
Referring to cognitive response theory, respondents’ thoughts on Covid-19 phenomenon varied,
depending on whether they received the message by reading, watching, and/or listening to the
information delivered by Covid-19 task force. A respondent confirmed that the contents of
messages delivered by Covid-19 task force are informative and persuasive. During pandemic
condition, information on Covid-19 could contain “threat” and clear information about the official
channel that the government used so that the people are not confused about where to get
correct information. The attitude of Bandung City people on obeying social distancing policy can
be measured based on its indicators: cognitive, affective, and behavior (conative). The data on
respondents’ attitude is displayed in the following table:
Table 2.
Responses on Public Attitude towards Obeying Social Distancing
Frequency of Responses Score
Indicators SD D CS SD D
(1) (2) (3) (1) (2)
Cognitive (Y1)
In a public place, you always try to avoid physical
2 6 78 162 136 1576
contact with other people
When travelling, you always wear a face mask and use
2 3 38 112 229 1709
hand sanitizer
Covid-19 is a disease spread by genes inherited from
214 122 16 24 8 542
parents
Average 1275.66 Good
Affective (Y2)
You prefer social distancing no matter where you are
4 9 69 177 125 1562
You prefer washing your hands with soap than with
3 20 59 164 138 1566
hand sanitizer
Social distancing has disrupted my work life 12 43 89 156 84 1409
Average 1512.33 Good
Conative (Y3)
You are willing to listen to information on Covid-19 4 22 110 172 76 1446
You are willing to persuade other people to do social
3 7 90 194 90 1513
distancing
You are willing to spread positive information on the
effects of social distancing during Covid-19 pandemic 5 10 90 188 91 1502
Average 1487 Good
Note: SD: Strongly Disagree; D: Disagree; QA: Quite Agree; A: Agree; SA: Strongly Agree
Source: Processed data, 2020
Table 2 shows that respondents’ attitude towards obeying social distancing, in sub variables of
1099© RIGEO ● Review of International Geographical Education 11(4), WINTER, 2021
cognitive, affective, and conative, is good. This indicates that the contents of Covid-19 related
messages have provided people with knowledge, comprehension, and willingness to perform the
health protocol as recommended by the Covid-19 task force. Cognitive score has the lowest
average score. It indicates that the large number of people who did not obey social distancing
might did so due to cognitive bias. Cognitive bias is a systematic fallacy in thinking that affects
one’s decision and judgement (16).
It means that majority of the respondents greatly appreciate the message delivered by the spoke-
person of Covid-19 task force on television, which recommends and urges people to obey and
practice the health protocol routinely. Television as part of mass media could have great
implication on today’s life, and it is getting greater, in both quantity and quality, every day
(yulianti, 2005).
Analysis of Inferential Statistics
To measure the correlation between the content of Covid-19 related messages and public
attitude towards social distancing policy, this research analyzes the data using Rank Spearman
correlation coefficient (rs). The result of the calculation is displayed in the following table:
Hypothesis:
H0: = 0 = There is no correlation between the exposure to contents of Covid-19 messages and
public attitude towards obeying social distancing policy.
H1: ≠ 0 = There is a correlation between the exposure to contents of Covid-19 messages and
public attitude towards obeying social distancing policy.
Table 3.
Result of Correlation between Exposure to Contents of Covid-10 Messages and Public Attitude
Correlations
Content Attitude
Spearman's rho Exposure Messages Correlation Coefficient
1,000 ,480**
Sig. (2-tailed) . ,000
N 384 384
Attitude Correlation Coefficient
,480** 1,000
Sig. (2-tailed) ,000 .
N 384 384
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
Source: Processed data, 2020
Based on table 3, Rank Spearman correlation coefficient is 0.480. According to Guildford criteria,
correlation coefficient of 0.480 is between 0.40-0.70, indicating that there is significant correlation
between the exposure to contents of messages concerning Covid-19 and public attitude towards
obeying social distancing. The results of significance test using SPSS based on the output above
found a significance value or Sig. (2-tailed) of 0.000. Since Sig. (2-tailed) 0.000 < lower than 0.05 or
0.01, there is a significant correlation between the exposure to contents of messages concerning
Covid-19 and public attitude towards obeying social distancing.
It means that exposure to contents of messages concerning Covid-19 delivered in Covid-19 task
forces’ press conferences is significantly correlated with public attitude towards obeying social
distancing as long as the public is given correct information in good communication.
Disseminating health information through television is an appropriate alternative because
television is an electronic mass media that can be accessed by its audience (18).
1100Perbawasari, S,; Setiawan, W,; Nugraha, A, R. (2021) Exposure To Covid-19 Message Contents And …
Table 4.
Result of Correlation between Contents and Intensity of Covid-19 Messages and Public Attitude
towards Obeying Social Distancing Policy
Source: Processed data, 2020
Table 4 shows that the Rank Spearman correlation coefficient (rs) between X 1 variable (Content)
and Y variable (attitude) is 0.563. Based on Guildford criteria, correlation coefficient of 0.563 is
between 0.40 - 0.70, indicating a significant correlation between the contents of messages
concerning Covid-19 and public attitude towards obeying social distancing. The results of
significance test using SPSS based on the output above found a significance value or Sig. (2-tailed)
of 0.000. Since Sig. (2-tailed) 0.000 < lower than 0.05 or 0.01, there is a significant correlation
between the contents of messages concerning Covid-19 and public attitude towards obeying
social distancing.
Contents of messages will be interpreted differently, depending on the recipient of the
information. Based on the Rank Spearman test, the public consider that the content of messages
delivered by Covid-19 task force is well-accepted. This is indicated by the order of the easily
digested contents of information, i.e. information about the terms used in health protocol
implementation. The term 3M or washing hands, wearing masks, and keep the distance) is more
easily digested and understood than the term 3T (testing, tracking, and treatment). The way the
message is delivered can be categorized as persuasion. Persuasion used in information from
Covid-19 task force is direct or explicit persuasion. According to Wijayanti, persuasion is one of
the four stages of communicating a message. The stages of communication include main point,
self-appearance, relationship, and persuasion (19). It is because the messages contain persuasive
sentences that invite audience to pay close attention to the information about Covid-19
development, which ends with a table displaying quantitative number of confirmed positive cases
of Covid-19.
Table 4 also shows that the Rank Spearman correlation coefficient (rs) between X 2 variable
(Intensity) and Y variable (attitude) is 0.496. Based on Guildford criteria, correlation coefficient of
0.496 is between 0.40 - 0.70, indicating a significant correlation between the intensity of Covid-19
messages and public attitude towards obeying social distancing. The results of significance test
using SPSS based on the output above found a significance value or Sig. (2-tailed) of 0.000. Since
Sig. (2-tailed) 0.000 < lower than 0.05 or 0.01, there is a significant correlation between the intensity
of messages concerning Covid-19 and public attitude towards obeying social distancing.
Intensity of messages delivered by Covid-19 task force is part of media exposure, including an
effort to find public data about media use. Covid-19 task force utilizes media routinely every day,
from 15.00-16.00 Western Indonesia Time. Media exposure is an activity of listening, watching, and
reading mass media messages or experiencing and paying attention to the message. Media
exposure may occur at individual and group levels (20).
Cognitive response theory states that changes in an individual’s attitude when he responds to
persuasive messages are actually a result of internal process that involves various arguments, both
the supporting and the opposing arguments. Most respondents in this study consider that the
intensity of messages has significant correlation with their obeying social distancing policies. The
correlation is evident in the fact that Covid-19 task force spread the information in the afternoon,
during the hours when most people are at home and able to watch the broadcast about Covid-
19 development.
1101© RIGEO ● Review of International Geographical Education 11(4), WINTER, 2021
Table 5.
Correlation between Content and Intensity of Covid-19 Messages and Cognitive, Affective, and
Conative Aspects of the People and Obedience toward Social Distancing Policy
Content Cognitiv Affective Conative
Content
Intensity
Cognitive
Affective
Conative
Source: Processed data, 2020
Table 5 shows that the Rank Spearman correlation coefficient (rs) between X 1 variable (Content)
and Y1 variable (Cognitive) is 0.350. Based on Guildford criteria, correlation coefficient of 0.350 is
between 0.20 - 0.40, indicating a significant but low correlation between the contents of messages
concerning Covid-19 and the cognitive aspect of the public regarding obeying social distancing
policies. The results of significance test using SPSS based on the output above found a significance
value or Sig. (2-tailed) of 0.000. Since Sig. (2-tailed) 0.000 < lower than 0.05 or 0.01, there is a
significant correlation between the contents of messages concerning Covid-19 and public
cognitive aspects regarding obeying social distancing policy.
Table 5 is detailing the extent of correlation between message content and people’s cognitive
aspect in obeying social distancing policy during Covid-19 pandemic. It is evident in the language
structure, style, and appeal of the messages delivered by Covid-19 task force. The message is
delivered in a structured, complete, clear, and unambiguous way. In addition, the communicator
delivering the message is trustworthy due to their background in medical practice and
government institution.
Meanwhile, the Rank Spearman correlation coefficient (rs) between X 1 variable (Content) and Y 2
variable (Affective) is 0.291. Based on Guildford criteria, correlation coefficient of 0.291 is between
0.20 - 0.40, indicating a low correlation between the contents of messages concerning Covid-19
and the affective aspect of the public regarding obeying social distancing policies. The results of
significance test using SPSS based on the output above found a significance value or Sig. (2-tailed)
of 0.000. Since Sig. (2-tailed) 0.000 < lower than 0.05 or 0.01, there is a significant correlation
between the contents of messages concerning Covid-19 and people’s affective aspects
regarding obeying social distancing policy.
Table 5 is detailing the extent of correlation between message content and people’s affective
aspect, which is a continuation of cognitive aspect. An information is considered effective if the
messages are accepted or liked by the recipients (the general public). Reaction of people’s
affective aspect switched between liking and disliking Covid-19 information since early March
2020. To be precise people got bored watching the press conferences from start to finish.
The Rank Spearman correlation coefficient (rs) between X1 variable (Content) and Y3 variable
(Conative) is 0.406. Based on Guildford criteria, correlation coefficient of 0.406 is between 0.40 -
0.70, indicating a quite significant correlation between the contents of messages concerning
Covid-19 and the conative aspect of the public regarding obeying social distancing policies. The
results of significance test using SPSS based on the output above found a significance value or Sig.
1102Perbawasari, S,; Setiawan, W,; Nugraha, A, R. (2021) Exposure To Covid-19 Message Contents And …
(2-tailed) of 0.000. Since Sig. (2-tailed) 0.000 < lower than 0.05 or 0.01, there is a significant
correlation between the contents of messages concerning Covid-19 and people’s conative
aspects regarding obeying social distancing policy. The content of Covid-19 related messages
affects people’s attitude towards obeying social distancing policies. It is evident in the fact that
people actively search for and buy face masks and hand sanitizer to be used during the
pandemic. This is part of their following the health protocol.
Based on table 5, the Rank Spearman correlation coefficient (rs) between X 2 variable (Intensity)
and Y1 variable (Cognitive) is 0.451. Based on Guildford criteria, correlation coefficient of 0.451 is
between 0.40 - 0.70, indicating quite significant correlation between the intensity of messages
concerning Covid-19 and the cognitive aspect of the public regarding obeying social distancing
policies. The results of significance test using SPSS based on the output above found a significance
value or Sig. (2-tailed) of 0.000. Since Sig. (2-tailed) 0.000 < lower than 0.05 or 0.01, there is a
significant correlation between the contents of messages concerning Covid-19 and people’s
affective aspects regarding obeying social distancing policy.
Intensity of the message concerns with the frequency and duration of the message delivery. The
intensity of Covid-19 related messages is quite strategic for disseminating knowledge to the
people. This is because the information is broadcasted in the afternoon. The information is
delivered by Covid-19 task force and is well-received. The intensity of the message is implemented
by repeating certain key words, which are health protocol.
Meanwhile, the Rank Spearman correlation coefficient (rs) between X 2 variable (Intensity) and Y 2
variable (Affective) is 0.357. Based on Guildford criteria, correlation coefficient of 0.357 is between
0.20 - 0.40, indicating a low correlation between the intensity of messages concerning Covid-19
and the affective aspect of the public regarding obeying social distancing policies. The results of
significance test using SPSS based on the output above found a significance value or Sig. (2-tailed)
of 0.000. Since Sig. (2-tailed) 0.000 < lower than 0.05 or 0.01, there is a significant correlation
between the intensity of messages concerning Covid-19 and people’s affective aspects
regarding obeying social distancing policy.
Public affective aspect in regards to obeying social distancing policies is affected after people
consider the content of the message, a process that includes liking, selecting, and believing. This
is apparent in the fact that the public keeps following the flow of information delivered regularly
every afternoon.
The Rank Spearman correlation coefficient (rs) between X 2 variable (Intensity) and Y 3 variable
(Conative) is 0.471. Based on Guildford criteria, correlation coefficient of 0.471 is between 0.40 -
0.70, indicating a quite significant correlation between the intensity of messages concerning
Covid-19 and the conative aspect of the public regarding obeying social distancing policies. The
results of significance test using SPSS based on the output above found a significance value or Sig.
(2-tailed) of 0.000. Since Sig. (2-tailed) 0.000 < lower than 0.05 or 0.01, there is a significant
correlation between the intensity of messages concerning Covid-19 and people’s conative
aspects regarding obeying social distancing policy.
Public conative aspect towards obeying social distancing policy is affected by the intensity of the
messages. It is evident in their tendency to respond to various ways the messages are delivered
by Covid-19 task force spoke-person. The messages contain further information for the public,
urging them to keep practicing the health protocol as a collective effort to stop the spread of
Covid-19.
Conclusion
1. The contents of messages concerning Covid-19 broadcasted by television have shown great
results. It is found that contents of Covid-19 messages have significant correlation with public
attitude towards obeying social distancing policy. Therefore, the hypothesis of this study,
which stated that there is a correlation between the contents of Covid-19 messages and
public attitude towards obeying social distancing policy, is accepted.
2. The intensity of Covid-19 messages spread by television is in good category and shows
significant correlation between the contents of Covid-19 messages and public attitude
towards obeying social distancing policy. Therefore, the hypothesis that there is a correlation
between the intensity of Covid-19 messages and public attitude towards obeying social
distancing policy, is accepted.
1103© RIGEO ● Review of International Geographical Education 11(4), WINTER, 2021
Conflict of Interest: None to declare
Source of Funding: Nil
Ethical Clearance: Taken
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