2 Submissions analysis and methodology | Covid-19 Lessons Learned

Pandemic Perspectives

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Appendix 2: Submissions analysis and methodology

Tāpiritanga 2: Te tātari me ngā tukanga

Analysts employed a two-step coding process to capture public submissions sentiment on themes and topics of interest to the Commission. Step one is outlined below, and Step two after.

Step one | Kaupae tuatahi

Coding of every submission to themes
Every submission was read and sorted (coded) into the themes and topics it addressed. Each submission, either in its entirety or in sections, was coded to general sentiment, perspective, and themes as shown below in the left column, and, where opinions were positive or negative, to the relevant theme in the right-hand columns.
General sentiment (entire submission coded)	1. Broadly supportive of Government response 2. Broadly critical of the Government response 3. Mixed opinion on the Government response
Perspective	1. First-hand account – 'it happened to me or my dependent' 2. Second hand – 'it happened to a relative or friend' 3. Third hand – 'I've heard it happened' or 'it happened to someone'
Main themes (relevant sections coded)	Positive 1. Lockdowns 2. Vaccine mandates 3. Vaccine safety/harm 4. Vaccine approval/rollout 5. Other public health tools 6. General, or overall response Negative 1. Lockdowns 2. Vaccine mandates 3. Vaccine safety/harm 4. Vaccine approval/rollout 5. Other public health tools 6. General, or overall response
Cross-cutting themes (relevant sections coded)	Positive 1. Communication and information 2. Māori, iwi, and Pacific perspectives Negative 1. Communication and information 2. Misinformation hampered the response 3. Evidence of non-mainstream thinking 4. Social division and mistrust 5. Māori, iwi, and Pacific perspectives
Suggestions (relevant sections coded)	1. Lockdowns 2. Vaccine mandates 3. Vaccine safety/harm 4. Vaccine approval/rollout 5. Other public health tools 6. General, or overall response 7. Other suggestions (including those from cross-cutting themes)

Step two | Kaupae tuarua

Coding to understand rationale for opinions
Comments in each theme were looked at in greater detail and 'coded out' into topics and sub-topics. Examples are shown below of the types of topics that arose in submissions for one positive and one negative main theme, and for one positive and one negative cross-cutting theme. These form the heading structure of the report. In some cases, topics were further coded out into sub-topics.
Main themes
Positive 1. Lockdowns 2. Vaccine mandates 3. Vaccine safety/harm 4. Vaccine approval/rollout 5. Other public health tools 6. General, or overall response	P1.1 General support for lockdowns P1.2 Lockdown rationale and implementation clear P1.3 Living in lockdown P1.4 Good access to health or other care in lockdown P1.5 Education access and support in lockdown was good
Negative 1. Lockdowns 2. Vaccine mandates 3. Vaccine safety/harm 4. Vaccine approval/rollout 5. Other public health tools 6. General, or overall response	N2.1 Mandates damaged social cohesion and wellbeing N2.2 Broad opposition to vaccine mandate N2.3 Employment, business and economy were negatively impacted N2.4 Concerns about how mandates were implemented, incl. exemptions N2.5 Parliament protestors had legitimate concerns
Cross-cutting themes
Positive 1. Communication and information 2. Impact of misinformation 3. Other aspects	CC P1.1 Good, clear, or informative communications CC P1.2 Leaders communicated well or effectively CC P1.3 Expert, evidence-based information was shared CC P1.4 Communication was good, but for a small aspect CC P1.5 Text alerts, advertising, signage was useful
Negative 1. Communication and information 2. Loss of institutional trust 3. Involvement of unilateral bodies in response 4. Other aspects	CC N1.1 Govt. used media comms to spread fear, propaganda CC N1.2 Alternative views suppressed, incl. those of Drs CC N1.3 Reporting of COVID-19 cases, deaths were misleading CC N1.4 Scientific information was selective, modelling wrong