FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – An undergraduate business student and mathematics faculty researcher are studying how the emergence of COVID-19 has altered individual behaviors in terms of hygiene, health-seeking and consumer behaviors.

Azat Sadyrov, an undergraduate economics major and research assistant at the Sam M. Walton College of Business' Behavioral Business Research Lab, and Samantha Robinson, teaching assistant professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, are teaming up on the research project.

The two will track and evaluate differences in behavior due to regional locations and other demographics, while tracking real-time data from external sources regarding state-level case counts, hospitalizations, lockdown status and other factors.

Given the dynamic and evolving nature of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Sadyrov and Robinson will examine if this experience has a short or a long-term impact on behavior by repeating the survey later in the year. 

"The fight against the spread of the virus is not only intended to reduce the total number of cases, but also to slow down their rate of increase," Sadyrov said. "Individual behavior is critical to controlling the spread of the virus. How much people listen to recommendations is just as important as actions by governments, if not more."

The two hope to present their research at conferences next year and to submit a manuscript for publication.

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