Assessing the Impact of Information Sources on Public Engagement in Social Actions: A Study on the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Abstract

This study evaluates the impact of information sources on public engagement in social actions related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Data were collected through an online questionnaire distributed across Albania, achieving a response rate of 83.8% from 500 distributed questionnaires. The survey ensured anonymity and confidentiality of respondents, enhancing the reliability of the data collected. The analysis began with an assessment of the internal consistency of the questionnaire using Cronbach's alpha, which resulted in a value of 0.723, indicating reliable measures. Factor analysis identified five key components influencing opinions on the Russia-Ukraine conflict: information sources and perception of reality, views on external stances and support, concerns about peace and sovereignty, military intervention and neutrality, and influences on Albania’s stance. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that these factors significantly predict social action participation related to the conflict, with an overall model R² of 0.727. The analysis revealed that well-informed individuals are more likely to engage in social actions, while concerns about Albania's stance have a negative influence. This research underscores the importance of reliable information and external support views in shaping public engagement in social actions. The findings provide a structured understanding of how various factors influence public perceptions and actions, offering valuable insights for policymakers and researchers in conflict and social behavior studies. This paper has some limitation as; inclusiveness of all groups in society equally and psychological biases can affect our observations.

Received: 3 November 2024 / Accepted: 31 December 2024 / Published: 05 January 2025