Research Group Social Interaction in Public Spaces

Both patients and healthcare professionals indicate that conversations during treatment mainly focus on diagnosis and treatment, while concerns about quality of life are rarely addressed, not even during aftercare. As a result, the information needs, emotions, or concerns of the patient are not adequately met. This hampers a good relationship between the healthcare provider and the patient. An important question in this research area is: "What conversational dilemmas arise in interactions between healthcare professionals and patients, and what are the factors that promote or hinder discussions about these dilemmas?"

Digitalization brings significant changes to social interaction in society, for example by determining who participates in which conversations and where.
How do people shape norms and values in both online and offline social interactions? What effects does this have on their conversations, and how can these insights be used in societal change and digital innovation? To this end, we develop conversational tools that help identify linguistic patterns related to potential polarization in public debates; offer options for interaction; and improve overall interaction.

The current climate and ecological crisis demands social interactions that are both connecting and realistic.
What are innovative formats for climate conversations, how can we ensure the quality of these conversations, and how can we keep them going? How can people safely share emotions, feelings of grief, or despair with one another? How can people learn from each other in these discussions, not only exchanging viewpoints but even merging them? How can parties be encouraged to reflect? And how can technology play a constructive role in this process?

Digital innovation is a double-edged sword that, on one hand, creates new communication possibilities, but on the other hand, can also foster impersonal and polarized communication. The future-proof communication professional (and in fact, almost every professional today is also a communication professional) requires technical literacy: knowing how to communicate with sensitivity in various digital contexts, but also being able to assess which digital environment is most appropriate—whether face-to-face, by phone, through public campaigns, on social media, or a hybrid form.