The study’s aims are to analyze the endorsement of the ethos of conflict (EoC )narrative in the Serbian-Albanian conflict among the adults in Serbia, its relation to political conservatism, and its ...role in pushing conservative political action. A total of N = 1613 adults (aged 18+) were recruited for face-to-face interviewing, in a representative sampling procedure, in December 2019 in Serbia. The results show high endorsement of EoC in the Serbian-Albanian fray; the mediation effect of EoC (having both high EoC and high conservatism is associated with greater political activism); the relation between EoC and political activism is moderated by age (the older population endorsing higher EoC was more politically active). In the future, we should address more actively the mobilizers of reactionary political actions in public and individual spheres, to better understand the mechanisms for achieving long-term peace.
Conspiracy mentality is a general tendency to attribute significant events to the actions of malevolent actors, without referencing to a specific event. In two independent representative surveys of ...adult Serbian citizens (N1 = 1194; N2 = 1258) we validated Serbian version of the conspiracy mentality questionnaire (CMQ), a reasonably content-free tool designed to capture global conspiratorial beliefs. We successfully validated the adapted CMQ and replicated findings on two national representative samples. In both studies the results demonstrated: good psychometric properties of the CMQ and its predictive capacity for endorsing the international Conspiracy Theories (CTs) (Study 1) and the locally specific CTs (Study 2) over and above the measures of perceptions of political climate (trust in institutions, corruption perception, feeling of insecurity – Study 1), and generalized political attitudes (right-wing authoritarianism, social dominance orientation, political cynicism – Study 2). The study presents a unique adaptation and implementation of the CMQ in the non-English speaking country with very active and widespread conspiracy beliefs and a long history of conflicts.
Although the development of vaccines against COVID-19 may mark the rounding of the corner in the pandemic, several issues are delaying our exit out of it. The majority of people seem to be concerned ...about the vaccines and unwilling to take them, while also not being responsible enough when it comes to the rest of the guidelines. In this paper, we wanted to examine the levels of support for different official guidelines, as well as the reasons behind their rejection. In the representative study (N=1198) of Serbian adults (aged 18+) conducted in September 2020 we found that most people do comply with guidelines such as hand washing and mask-wearing, but do not want to be vaccinated. We also found that conspiracy beliefs, trust in science and institutions, and health risk perception all play an important role in predicting guidelines compliance along with vaccination intentions. Path analysis confirmed that conspiracy belief indirectly predicts health guidance compliance, lowering health risk perception and trust in science and institutions.
Although the development of vaccines against COVID-19 may mark the rounding of the corner in the pandemic, several issues are delaying our exit out of it. The majority of people seem to be concerned ...about the vaccines and unwilling to take them, while also not being responsible enough when it comes to the rest of the guidelines. In this paper, we wanted to examine the levels of support for different official guidelines, as well as the reasons behind their rejection. In the representative study (N=1198) of Serbian adults (aged 18+) conducted in September 2020 we found that most people do comply with guidelines such as hand washing and mask-wearing, but do not want to be vaccinated. We also found that conspiracy beliefs, trust in science and institutions, and health risk perception all play an important role in predicting guidelines compliance along with vaccination intentions. Path analysis confirmed that conspiracy belief indirectly predicts health guidance compliance, lowering health risk perception and trust in science and institutions.
The study’s aims are to analyze the endorsement of the ethos of conflict (EoC) narrative in the Serbian-Albanian conflict among the adults in Serbia, its relation to political conservatism, and its ...role in pushing conservative political action. A total of N = 1613 adults (aged 18+) were recruited for face-to-face interviewing, in a representative sampling procedure, in December 2019 in Serbia. The results show high endorsement of EoC in the Serbian-Albanian fray; the mediation effect of EoC (having both high EoC and high conservatism is associated with greater political activism); the relation between EoC and political activism is moderated by age (the older population endorsing higher EoC was more politically active). In the future, we should address more actively the mobilizers of reactionary political actions in public and individual spheres, to better understand the mechanisms for achieving long-term peace.
Иако развој вакцина против коронавируса може значити скори заврше- так пандемије, неколико проблема одлаже наш излазак из здравствене кризе. Већина људи је, чини се, забринута када је реч о вакцинама ...и не жели да их прими, док исто- времено не поштује доследно све званичне здравствене препоруке. У овом раду смо желели да испитамо нивое подршке различитим здравственим препорукама, као и разлоге који стоје иза њиховог одбацивања. У студији на репрезентативном узорку (N = 1.198) одраслог становништва Србије (старијих од 18 година) спроведеној у септем- бру 2020. године пронашли смо да већина људи поштује препоруке као што су прање руку и ношење маски, али да не желе да буду вакцинисани. Такође смо пронашли да прихватање теорија завере, поверење у науку и институције и перцепција здравстве- ног ризика играју важну улогу у предвиђању поштовања здравствених мера, као и вак- циналних намера. Медијациона анализа је потврдила да веровање у теорије завере индиректно предвиђа поштовање мера, јер веровање у те теорије доводи до ниже пер- цепције здравственог ризика и нижег поверења у науку и институције.
Predictors and effects of scientific knowledge Milošević-Đorđević, Jasna; Kljajić, Duško; Sladojević Matić, Jelena ...
International journal of sociology and social policy,
08/2022, Letnik:
42, Številka:
9/10
Journal Article
Recenzirano
PurposeScientific knowledge has been a topic of interest for scholars for a long time; however, its impact on scientific decision- making and determining trust is severely underresearched. This study ...is aimed at determining the relationship between cultural and social attitudes and scientific knowledge and the impact of knowledge on trust in scientists in general.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a face-to-face survey, drawing from a nationally representative sample of the adult Serbian population (N = 1,451). The authors tested the following parameters: a. the levels of scientific knowledge within the Serbian population; b. social and cultural values as predictors of scientific knowledge and c. the effects of scientific knowledge on trust in scientists.FindingsThe analysis shows a moderate level of scientific knowledge, predominantly positive public attitudes towards scientists. The authors found that scientific knowledge indeed predicts trust in scientists on various issues, and so do cultural and social worldviews, both directly and even more significantly through the mediation of scientific knowledge.Originality/valueThis is the first attempt to assess the level of scientific knowledge among the Serbian public and evaluate its, as well as other factors', influence on public attitudes toward scientists in a time when trusting experts is of great relevance.
Modern democracies around the world are threatened by growing political populism and intolerance. This fact is prominent especially in the Balkan region, where the effect of violent ethnic conflict ...is still present. Empirical data from this region registered low level of political engagement, high ethnic stereotyping and distance toward non-majority groups.
Modern democracies around the world are threatened by growing political populism and intolerance. This fact is prominent especially in the Balkan region, where the effect of violent ethnic conflict is still present. Empirical data from this region registered low level of political engagement, high ethnic stereotyping and distance toward non-majority groups.
Results confirmed that both online and offline activities can have a positive effect on social inclusion in real world by reducing political anomie and cynicism and belief in a just world, and increasing political interest. This research highlights the importance of fostering different types of civic activism because the impact of political engagement in the real and even more in the virtual world leads to a reduction of social distance toward minority groups in reality. Data suggested that broadening platforms for civic engagement could be an effective strategy in building social inclusion.
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