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Investigating The Formation And Substantiation Of Anti-Vaccination Attitudes: A Qualitative Analysis, Ned Sherry

Sociology & Anthropology Theses

Despite evidence that vaccinations reduce incidences of disease and spread, certain individuals question vaccine usage and often abstain from vaccination (Dikema et al., 2005 & Salzberg, 2012). Not vaccinating increases the opportunity for certain diseases to enter communities as well as raises healthcare costs.

Existing research of anti-vaccination populations has focused largely on quantitative studies, rarely looking in depth at the individuals that make up this demographic. This study, using qualitative methods, investigated anti-vaccine attitudes, uncovering the underlying processes by which anti-vaccination opinions are created and maintained. Participants were recruited from The Pacific Northwest, a region with the strongest …