The COVID-19 pandemic was a major health crisis that challenged citizens’ information management routines. Epistemic ideals guided how people scanned and filtered information, engaged with it and adapted their behaviour accordingly.
Conducted in Finland, a recent study found that four distinctive profiles characterise citizens’ engagement with information.
Those emphasising the accuracy of information considered it essential that information was precise and scientifically valid. They considered it important to defend what they perceived as correct information, particularly against mis- or disinformation.
Those emphasising the plausibility of information interpreted meaningful information based on who was presenting it. For instance, people in this group believed that the most reliable information on the effects of COVID-19 restrictions came from people who had personally experienced those effects. They sought and interpreted information with others who shared similar backgrounds, and they actively disseminated it within society.
Those emphasising the credibility of information assessed information as part of a broader ideological framework. Information they perceived as correct did not conflict with their own values. They gathered information through a very narrow lens, but felt little need to share their own interpretations with others.
Those emphasising the cohesion of information considered it important that information did not create or increase societal tensions. For them, the most valid information was that which was broadly accepted. They interpreted changing situations in ways that avoided conflict and were widely endorsed.
Collaboration between citizens and public authorities is strengthened by authorities’ ability to take different ways of engaging with information into account in their activities and communication in times of crisis. This is particularly important during periods when uncertainty and rapid changes highlight the importance of collaboration.
“When public authorities are aware of the different ways in which citizens engage with information, they can adjust their communication and leadership to ensure that as many citizens as possible can find valid and appropriate information in a way that suits them,” says Marilla Kortesalmi, University Lecturer in Home Economics at the University of Eastern Finland.
The existence of various epistemic ideals was made visible by the pandemic, but Kortesalmi notes that we constantly employ epistemic ideals when assessing important and meaningful information.
“Understanding this may lead to, for example, fewer anti-vaccination views, adoption of protective behaviours or compliance with public guidelines.”
Research article:
Kortesalmi M, Jalonen H, Kallunki VRV (2026;), "Citizen engagement with information when adapting to health crises: four distinctive profiles". International Journal of Public Sector Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM-06-2025-0263
