What is your gender?
Male
Female
Prefer not to say
What is your age group?
Under 25
25-34
35-44
45-54
55+
Which province are you currently based in?
Eastern Cape
Free State
Gauteng
Kwazulu Natal
Limpopo
Mpumalanga
Northern Cape
North West
Western Cape
What is your broad STEM discipline? (Field of Study)
Natural / Biological Sciences
Physical, Chemical, or Earth Sciences
Engineering and Technology
Mathematical and Computer Sciences
Health / Medical Sciences
What is your current professional status in South Africa?
Science Communication Student / Graduate
Early-Career STEM Professional (First 1–5 years in industry)
Established STEM Professional (More than 5 years in industry)
Academic / Researcher
From which type of institution did you graduate?
Historically Disadvantaged University (HDU)
Traditional / Historically Privileged University
University of Technology
Other (Please specify)
Specify Here
How long have you maintained an active profile on LinkedIn?
Less than 1 year
1–3 years
4–5 years
More than 5 years
How has your primary use of LinkedIn shifted since you started your scientific career?
Consuming content only; I look at industry updates but rarely post science content myself.
Active networking; I use the platform to actively share research, write posts, and build a professional profile.
How often do you use LinkedIn to share, discuss, or conduct scientific outreach?
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Rarely or Never
What is your primary goal when sharing scientific content or outreach on LinkedIn? (Select all that apply)
Educating the general public or industry outsiders on scientific issues
Networking with other scientists and industry peers
Increasing my personal professional visibility and career opportunities
Sharing institutional updates or corporate/academic awards
How would you describe the dominant culture on LinkedIn regarding science updates?
Purely collaborative and knowledge-focused
Performance-driven (e.g., a 'bragging stage' focused on thought leadership and corporate branding)
Please rate your agreement with the following statement: "LinkedIn's performative corporate expectations undermine its credibility, making it an unreliable tool for genuine science communication."
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
In your opinion, does LinkedIn's algorithm confuse corporate 'clout' (likes, views, corporate branding) with actual scientific authority?
Yes, definitely
Sometimes
No, not at all
On average, how would you describe the organic (unpaid) reach of your scientific posts on LinkedIn?
Highly reliable; my professional network always sees and interacts with my content.
Unpredictable; some posts get views, but most are buried with very little reach.
Suppressed unless I actively use corporate buzzwords or tag high-status institutional accounts.
Please rate your agreement with the following statement: "I feel that LinkedIn is unreliable for sharing local scientific research unless you pay money to 'boost' your posts or conform to international corporate trends."
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Have you ever chosen to adapt your writing style or use generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) simply to improve visibility or satisfy the corporate expectations of LinkedIn's algorithm?
Yes, frequently
Yes, occasionally
No, never
Have you noticed that using local, regional, or contextual South African scientific terms causes your LinkedIn posts to receive fewer views compared to generic, Westernised corporate keywords?
Yes, definitely
I suspect so, but I am not certain
No, I have not noticed a difference
Can you share a brief example of a LinkedIn post or scientific update where you felt your core scientific message was overlooked because it did not fit the platform's professional social culture or algorithm?
Does browsing or engaging with LinkedIn's performance-driven culture cause you to experience professional anxiety, imposter syndrome, or feelings of inadequacy?
Yes, frequently
Yes, occasionally
No, never
How do these psychological pressures affect your professional online behaviour? (Select the statement that best applies)
They cause me to withdraw, making me hesitate or refuse to participate in scientific discourse on LinkedIn.
They make me change the type of content I post (e.g., posting less technical research and more polished or award-focused updates).
They have no effect on how I choose to engage.
In your experience, who does LinkedIn's architecture naturally favour or boost when it comes to visibility? (Select all that apply)
Established scientists from wealthy or highly privileged universities
Large corporate entities and well-funded industry accounts
Executive "thought leaders" rather than technical, practising scientists
International/Western researchers over local African researchers
In your experience, who does LinkedIn's architecture naturally sideline or suppress? (Select all that apply)
Established scientists from wealthy or highly privileged universities
Large corporate entities and well-funded industry accounts
Independent or newly qualified science graduates
International/Western researchers over local African researchers
Please describe one specific situation where LinkedIn's performative culture or layout rules influenced your ability to share scientific research authentically.
Would you like to participate in a small group online focus group to unpack the topic in the survey, which will be scheduled soon through Teams or Zoom?
Yes
No
If yes, please provide us with an e-mail address and contact number
Would you like to participate in an online follow-up focus group (via Teams or Zoom) to discuss this topic further?
Yes
No
If yes, please provide your contact details so we can send you the meeting invitation
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