TTLA: Rumors and the formation of rumors in semi-public spaces (Case study of a coffee shop in Hanoi)

1. Full name of the doctoral candidate:Lu Thi Mai Oanh2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: April 20, 1987 4. Place of birth: Nghe An.

5. Decision No. 3684/QD-XHNV dated December 31, 2015, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, recognizing the doctoral student.

6. Changes in the training process: None

7. Thesis title: Rumors and the formation of rumors in semi-public spaces(Case study)pcoffee shops in Hanoi.

8. Major: Sociology 9. Code: 62310301

10. Scientific supervisor: Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quy Thanh

11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

- This study indicates that in semi-public spaces, through social media channels and interpersonal communication, the public engages in discussions on a wide variety of topics, not only those related to individuals or social groups but also those in the public sphere. The research results show significant differences in the topics discussed and disseminated across gender, education level, and occupation margins.

There are two basic processes that form or transform rumors: "from something untrue to something believed to be true, sometimes altering behavior," and "from one content to another." Through the "personal lens" (such as the needs, preferences, interests, etc.) of individuals, groups create "stories" that are conveyed with more detail and are more plausible to them. Highly uncertain spatial contexts (e.g., natural disasters) and ambiguous information content also play a significant role in the generation of rumors.

Rumors cannot develop without mechanisms that guide the transmission of information between individuals and groups. Because the reception of information and the socio-psychological backgrounds of those transmitting it differ, individuals often receive information and relay it based on their own perspectives, leading to changes in content. The mechanisms of rumor transmission are often emphasized by four rules: re-examination with increased emphasis on the severity of the rumor, embellishment, simplification of details, and re-examination based on personal interpretation. However, these rules are often expressed differently in each space and through multi-directional communication.

- Due to a lack of complete information, individuals spreading rumors often find it difficult to assess their accuracy. Therefore, to curb rumors, it is necessary to focus on providing sufficient, transparent, and timely information. In addition, the responsibility of individuals and organizations for the information they disseminate or transmit needs to be emphasized more strongly.

Coffee shops – semi-public spaces in Vietnam – have created an environment suited to the cultural and social characteristics of Vietnamese people, becoming a forum for information exchange and a foundation for the formation and development of rumors. The research has essentially achieved its objectives, and the research questions have been clarified through qualitative and quantitative evidence. However, the study has limitations, focusing only on clarifying the process of social interaction without delving deeply into the diversity of typical rumors in specific contexts at different time points to gain a more comprehensive understanding and assessment of the mechanisms of rumor formation and dissemination.

12. Practical applications (if any): Use as a reference material in teaching the course on media sociology and public opinion.

13. Future research directions: Further research into typical rumor cases in different contexts.

14. Published works related to the project:

- Lu Thi Mai Oanh, Nguyen Quy Thanh (2018), “The mechanism of rumor dissemination in semi-public spaces: A case study of a coffee shop in Hanoi”,Journal of Sociology(2), pp. 37-49.

- Lu Thi Mai Oanh (2018), “Conditions for the emergence of rumors: Overview of the problem and research methods”,Journal of Education and Society(1), pp. 314-319.

- Lu Thi Mai Oanh (2018), “Classification of rumors in semi-public spaces: A case study of coffee shops in Hanoi”,Journal of Social Psychology(11), pp. 13-22.

- Nguyen Quy Thanh, Lu Thi Mai Oanh (2019), “The mechanism of rumor transmission in semi-public spaces approached from a sociological research perspective”,Journal of Political Science Information(1), pp. 75-77.

- Lu Thi Mai Oanh, Nguyen Quy Thanh (2019), “Social network theory in rumor research”,Vietnam Journal of Social Sciences(8), pp. 68-76.

INFORMATION ON DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name:Lu Thi Mai Oanh2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: April 20, 1987 4. Place of birth: Nghe An

5. Admission decision number: 3684/QD-XHNV December 31, 2015.

6. Changes in academic process: No

7. Official thesis title: Rumor and its formation in semi-public spaces(An accumulative case studies in selected cafe in Hanoi).

8. Major: Sociology 9. Code: 62310301

10. Supervisors: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quy Thanh

11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

- This research shows that in semi public space, via social media and interpersonal communication channel, the publics engaged in diverse discussion topics ranging from individual, group and public affairs and matters. It shows a significant difference in the discussion topics by gender, education level and occupation.

- There are two ways of forming a rumor: “from none to something” and “from one content to another content”. Through “personal lenses”, transmitted “story” are supplied with more details and become more regional. The context of a high level of uncertainty (for example, natural disaster) and the ambiguity of the content play an important role in forming rumors.

- Rumor cannot be created without a transmission mechanism for interpersonal and inter-group information. Due to receptivity, the psychological backgrounds of transmitters are different. Therefore, their rumors are transmitted based on their background and receptivity, which leads to distortion of the content. In that, transmission mechanism is complied with the laws, including increasing of importance, sharpening, simplifying and re-telling according to individual's judgment. However, the laws of rumor transmission are deferred from private, public, and semi-public space and via multi-facetted communication.

- Because of the lack of information, rumor transmitters are difficult to evaluate the accuracy of a rumor. Hence, to eliminate rumors, it is crucial to provide sufficient information, transparency, and timely. Additional, personal and corporate responsibility in information disclosure must be strengthened.

The cafe, a semi-public space in Vietnam creates an environment suitable to sociocultural characteristics of Vietnam which can be a realm for information exchange and ground for forming and developing rumors. Overall speaking, the research has fulfilled the objectives and answers to a certain extent of the aforementioned questions. However, the research also has limitations, for example, the focus made on social interaction, but there is a lack of deeper investigations and chronological analysis about rumor diversity. This will bring more understandings about the mechanism of rumor forming and transmission from multiple perspectives.

12. Practical applicability, if any: Used as a reference in teaching communication sociology, public opinion.

13. Further research directions, if any: Further research on typical rumor cases in different contexts.

14: Thesis-related publications:

- Lu Thi Mai Oanh, Nguyen Quy Thanh (2018), “Diffusing mechanism of rumor in semi-public spaces: A study of cafe-shops in Hanoi”,Sociology(2), pp. 37-49.

- Lu Thi Mai Oanh (2018), “Conditions for rumor rising: overview and research method”,Journal of Education and Society(1), pp. 314-319.

- Lu Thi Mai Oanh (2018), “Classification of rumors in semi-public spaces: A study of cafe -shops in Hanoi”,VASP Journal of social psychology(11), pp. 13-22.

- Nguyen Quy Thanh, Lu Thi Mai Oanh (2019), "The mechanism of spreading rumors in semi-public spaces. A sociological perspective",Journal of Political Science Information(1), pp. 75-77.

- Lu Thi Mai Oanh, Nguyen Quy Thanh (2019), “Theory of Social Network in Study of Rumors (8),Journal of Vietnam Academy of social sciences(8), pp. 68-76.