Collaborative Management of Public Health Crises in Universities: Balancing Information Disclosure, Cognitive Bias, and Media Influence
Authors: Wei Jing , Zhou Jiawei , Zheng Li , minyi Dong , Xiao Yitong , Boyuan Ma , He Qiang 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

In recent years, the world has witnessed an increase in unexpected public health crises, demanding effective collaboration between various university departments, students, and new media platforms to address these emergencies efficiently. This study, conducted against the backdrop of the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, aims to delve into the strategic interactions among university departments, students, and new media during public health emergencies.Utilizing the principles of bounded rationality and limited information availability, we have developed an evolutionary game model to analyze the dynamic evolution of decision-making behaviors within this tripartite context. The research results indicate that in different contexts, the decision-making behaviors of the three parties interact with each other and continuously evolve towards different stable strategy sets. Using Vensim software for simulation analysis, it is found that moderate government penalties can effectively increase the probability of relevant university departments choosing to disclose information promptly. Reducing the cost of student complaints will increase the probability of new media choosing not to verify and report. Lowering students' optimistic bias will effectively influence the choice of behavior strategies among university management departments, students, and new media in the context of public health emergencies.The research findings underscore the effectiveness of moderate government sanctions in incentivizing timely information disclosure by university departments. Simultaneously, the reduction in the costs associated with student complaints amplifies the probability of new media platforms disseminating unverified information. Furthermore, our study sheds light on the substantial impact of diminishing students' overly optimistic tendencies on the decision strategies employed by university management, students, and new media in response to public health emergencies.In conclusion, through meticulous model analysis and simulation, this study provides valuable recommendations and strategies for universities to adeptly manage unforeseen public health crises. By encouraging responsible information disclosure, mitigating the spread of unverified information, and addressing cognitive biases, universities can play a pivotal role in effectively handling public health emergencies. This research underscores the significance of collaborative efforts among university departments, students, and new media platforms in safeguarding public health and well-being during times of crisis.At the theoretical level, this paper mainly studies the emergency strategies of public emergencies in higher education. It covers different strategies of higher education, students and new media under public emergencies, and covers the whole process of decision-making optimization of different strategic subjects. In practice, the research results are helpful for universities to accurately evaluate the response strategies of all parties in public emergencies, make scientific and reasonable decisions, and have important application value for promoting the high-quality development of higher education under public emergencies.