Risk Perception: Experts and the Public

1998 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lennart Sjöberg
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Nuclear Waste ◽  
Crucial Role ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Social Dilemmas ◽  
Moral Values ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
Risk Acceptability

Perceived risk is a crucial factor in the social dilemmas surrounding the risks and hazards of the environment. This paper reviews behavioral research on perceived risk of the public and experts, giving special attention to nuclear waste risk. Experts and the public frequently have very different views of risk, and three cases are distinguished and explanations for the differences between experts and the public are outlined. Theories and models of perceived risk are then discussed. Most theories have been found to have only low or modest explanatory power with regard to level of perceived risk, and even less when it comes to risk acceptability. It is pointed out that risk perception is probably less cognitive than has previously been believed, and that such factors as attitudes and moral values play a crucial role.

scholarly journals The amplification of risk in experimental diffusion chains

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (18) ◽  
pp. 5631-5636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi Moussaïd ◽  
Henry Brighton ◽  
Wolfgang Gaissmaier
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Perception Of Risk ◽  
Social Amplification Of Risk ◽  
Public Response ◽  
The Public ◽  
Perceptions Of Risk ◽  
The Social ◽  
Risk Judgments

Understanding how people form and revise their perception of risk is central to designing efficient risk communication methods, eliciting risk awareness, and avoiding unnecessary anxiety among the public. However, public responses to hazardous events such as climate change, contagious outbreaks, and terrorist threats are complex and difficult-to-anticipate phenomena. Although many psychological factors influencing risk perception have been identified in the past, it remains unclear how perceptions of risk change when propagated from one person to another and what impact the repeated social transmission of perceived risk has at the population scale. Here, we study the social dynamics of risk perception by analyzing how messages detailing the benefits and harms of a controversial antibacterial agent undergo change when passed from one person to the next in 10-subject experimental diffusion chains. Our analyses show that when messages are propagated through the diffusion chains, they tend to become shorter, gradually inaccurate, and increasingly dissimilar between chains. In contrast, the perception of risk is propagated with higher fidelity due to participants manipulating messages to fit their preconceptions, thereby influencing the judgments of subsequent participants. Computer simulations implementing this simple influence mechanism show that small judgment biases tend to become more extreme, even when the injected message contradicts preconceived risk judgments. Our results provide quantitative insights into the social amplification of risk perception, and can help policy makers better anticipate and manage the public response to emerging threats.

scholarly journals Factors Associated with Perception of Risk and Knowledge of Contracting the Novel COVID-19 among Adults in Bangladesh: Analysis of Online Surveys

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanvir Abir ◽  
Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah ◽  
Uchechukwu Levi Osuagwu ◽  
Dewan Muhammad Nur -A Yazdani ◽  
Abdullah Al Mamun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Public Knowledge ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Online Surveys ◽  
The Public ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Adult Participants ◽  
Target Male ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

COVID-19 is an infectious disease spreading through human touch. This study explored the risk perception and knowledge towards COVID-19 infection among Bangladeshi adult participants. Two self-administered online surveys were administered at two different time points from 26-31 March 2020 (Early lockdown) and 11-16 May 2020 (Late lockdown) through social media on 1005 respondents (322 and 683 participants, respectively) during COVID-19 lockdown period in Bangladesh. Univariate and multiple linear regression models were used to examine factors associated with risk perception and knowledge towards COVID-19. The mean knowledge (8.4 vs. 8.1, P=0.022) and risk perception (11.2 vs. 10.6, P < 0.001) scores differ significantly between early and late lockdown. Compared to the early lockdown period, the scores for perceived risk of contracting COVID-19 decreased significantly while public knowledge about COVID-19 was lower but not statistically significant. Female participants who practiced high quarantine particularly those who did so at the public health order during the lockdown reported increased knowledge towards the spread of COVID-19 and perceived high risk of contracting COVID-19. Education intervention using awareness to increase public knowledge and perception towards COVID-19 in Bangladesh should target male participants who practiced low quarantine and are less worried about the spread of such novel coronavirus even as the physical distancing persists.

Determinants and Measurement of Climate Change Risk Perception, Worry, and Concern

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sander van der Linden
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Sensory Level ◽  
Climate Change Risk ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
The World ◽  
Social And Cultural Factors

Individuals, both within and between different countries, vary substantially in the extent to which they view climate change as a risk. What could explain such variation in climate change risk perception around the world? Climate change is relatively unique as a risk in the sense that it is difficult for people to experience directly or even detect on a purely perceptual or sensory level. In fact, research across the social and behavioral sciences has shown that although people might correctly perceive some changes in long-term climate conditions, psychological factors are often much more influential in determining how the public perceives the risk of climate change. Indeed, decades of research has shown that cognitive, affective, social, and cultural factors all greatly influence the public’s perception of risk, and that these factors, in turn, often interact with each other in complex ways. Yet, although a wide variety of cognitive, experiential, socio-cultural and demographic characteristics have all proven to be relevant, are there certain factors that systematically stand out in explaining and predicting climate change risk perception around the world? And even if so, what do we mean, exactly, by the term “risk perception” and to what extent does the way in which risk perception is measured influence the outcome? Last but certainly not least, how important is public concern about climate change in determining people’s level of behavioral engagement and policy-support for the issue?

scholarly journals Higher perceived risk of COVID-19 pandemic, higher concern for climate change: evidence from a longitudinal study in China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanchao Gong ◽  
Yan Sun
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Cognitive Resources ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Risk ◽  
Climate Change Concern

Abstract COVID-19 is raging globally taking a huge toll on public health. Although there seems to be a silver lining regarding mitigation of climate change given decreased emission of greenhouse gases during the pandemic, climate disruption actually constantly keeps apace. Therefore, it is important for the public to maintain alert to climate change amid the devastating pandemic. The current longitudinal study made a preliminary exploration of the relationship between public risk perception of the pandemic and climate change and we examined two possibly competing mediators which might lead to opposite effects—negative emotions and limited cognitive resources. The results show that pandemic risk perception has positive predictive effect on climate change concern mediated by negative emotions, but public attention to climate change is not impaired by increased concern for the pandemic. We discuss the value of our results and offer inspiring advice to better address climate change during COVID-19 outbreak.

Risk, worry and motivation: How is public knowledge of dementia shaped?

Dementia ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 147130122110647
Author(s):  
Rosalie Ashworth ◽  
Zoe Bassett ◽  
Jake Webb ◽  
Sharon Savage
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Public ◽  
Dementia Worry ◽  
Modifiable Factors ◽  
Disease Surveys ◽  
Key Variables ◽  
Design And Methods

Background and Objectives Due to the concern over global rising rates of dementia, increased emphasis has been placed on understanding and moulding the public’s knowledge and awareness of the condition. There has been limited previous research into predictors of dementia knowledge; overall knowledge amongst the public is low, and it has been widely agreed that more needs to be done to raise awareness of this condition. This study seeks to solidify understanding of public dementia knowledge and introduces dementia worry, motivation to seek information and risk perception as novel concomitants of this knowledge. Research Design and Methods A convenience sample of 311 UK adults completed a survey on dementia knowledge including Alzheimer’s disease-specific questions, worry about developing dementia, motivation to seek information and perceived personal risk of getting the disease. Surveys were completed face-to-face and included both closed and open-ended questions. Results Overall dementia knowledge scores were low, achieving an average of 33% of the total possible score, with 88% of the sample scoring below 50%. Bivariate correlations were performed between dementia knowledge and key variables, revealing significant positive relationships with risk perception ( r = 0.179, p = .002), worry ( r = 0.140, p = .016) and motivation to seek information ( r = 0.139, p = .016). When knowledge was dichotomised into high and low, worry about ( p = .28) and perceived risk ( p = .19) of dementia was significantly lower for people with low knowledge scores than for people with higher dementia knowledge scores. Motivation to seek information was not significantly different between the high and low knowledge groups ( p = .071). Discussion and Implications Despite the relatively low knowledge scores, findings show a positive relationship between modifiable factors and dementia knowledge, suggesting areas to consider for both further research and publication campaigns. Further implications and limitations of this study are discussed.

SOCIAL DILEMMAS AND COLLECTIVE RATIONALITY

2020 ◽  
pp. 20-33
Author(s):  
Aleksander S. Kudinov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Dilemmas ◽  
Collective Rationality ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
Public Resources ◽  
The Common ◽  
To Come ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Mutual Agreement

The article discusses the compatibility of particular rational actions at the individual level with the rationality as such at the collective one. The issue arises in decision-making collisions by several individuals, when the results of a possible rational choice of an individual are restricted by interactions with other actors. Such cases of interaction are found in the economic theory, political science, sociology, management and other areas of science related to a person and a group of people. The article examines the social dilemmas that are obvious when all individuals in a social group behave as «rational maximizers of utility» what makes it difficult to come to mutual agreement and coordinate their actions. In respect to the «tragedy of the common» dilemma, the author discusses ways of overcoming the incompatibility for individual and collective rationality within the framework of a new institutional policy, as a new direction of science in the public resources management.

Redeeming the Value(s) of the Social World

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 246-270
Author(s):  
Laurence Kaufmann ◽  
Philippe Gonzalez
Keyword(s):  
Public Sphere ◽  
Moral Realism ◽  
Social World ◽  
Moral Values ◽  
Public Values ◽  
The Public ◽  
Inductive Approach ◽  
Norms And Values ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Public Sphere

This article discusses some of the central theses proposed by Nathalie Heinich in her book Des Valeurs ( Values). After focusing on the distinction between norms and values, and the inductive approach favoured by an axiological sociology, we will address how public values might emotionally engage actors, the specificity of moral values and of people as ‘objects of valuation’ and, finally, the ambiguities inherent in the ‘axiologically neutral’ reconstruction of an ‘axiological grammar’. Somewhat countering the ‘descriptive relativism’ that Nathalie Heinich advocates, we will argue, from a pragmatist stance, in favour of a minimal moral realism based on axiological affordances. Finally, we will show that such a stance helps to account for the normative functioning of the public sphere.

scholarly journals Pentingnya Pendidikan Nilai Moral Bagi Generasi Penerus

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-133
Author(s):  
Ahmad Nawawi
Keyword(s):  
Moral Education ◽  
Future Generation ◽  
Values Education ◽  
Moral Values ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Albert Bandura ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Hours ◽  
Reliable Solution

Abstract: Moral/ Religion Values Education in Indonesia from 1968 to now a days are still neglected, it has not been addressed in a planned and serious. This is proved by the number of hours learning that has nuances of religious and moral education in minimal, it is only 2 to 4 hours per week than the hours from 34 to 42 hours per week. Whereas by KTSP, it is actually more manageable, so that these needs can be accommodated and fulfilled. Moral/ Religion Values Education is very important for youth as the future generation, that lifted the nation’s dignity, increasing quality of life, life for the better, safe and comfortable and prosperous. Education is to form the next generation who has German brains and has Mecca heart that reflects a balance between knowledge and practice of the moral / religious values. Ideal conditions of the next generation youth, as an individual who is growing, and therefore need to be given the opportunity to grow in proportion, directed, and optimal and get a balanced education services between knowledge and moral / religion education. They have a role and position strategic in the continuity of the nation life. But the factual conditions in the field as it appears in print and electronic media, in fact as the next generation, youths caught up in immoral behavior that is very worrying and fearing even disturbing the public, such as the emergence of biker gangs, fights (students, university students, and even between villages involving mass ). It is predicted as a result of the neglect of Moral Values Education in Indonesia. Therefore, this writing tries to explore based on literature review and the real conditions in the field to obtain a reliable solution / cespleng. Assisted by the Social and Moral Development theories of Albert Bandura and Kohlberg expected a solution to encourage the implementation of Moral/ Religion Values Education in Indonesia. Keywords: Moral Values Education / Religion, next generation.

scholarly journals Risk assessment terminology: risk communication part 2

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaetano Liuzzo ◽  
Stefano Bentley ◽  
Federica Giacometti ◽  
Silvia Piva ◽  
Andrea Serraino
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Risk Profile ◽  
The Public ◽  
Cultural Determinants ◽  
Available Information ◽  
Food Commodity

The paper describes the terminology of risk communication in the view of food safety: different aspects of risk perception (perceived risk, media triggers, the psychometric paradigm, fright factors and cultural determinants of risk perception) are described. The risk profile elements are illustrated in the manuscript: hazard-food commodity combination(s) of concern; description of the public health problem; food production, processing, distribution and consumption; needs and questions for the risk assessors; available information and major knowledge gaps and other risk profile elements.

Assessment of public awareness, risk perception and mental health burden during the first 3 months of the COVID-19 epidemic in China: a social media surveillance (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiyuan Hou ◽  
Xinyu Zhou ◽  
Hao Jiang ◽  
Fanxing Du ◽  
Heidi Larson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Burden ◽  
Containment Measures

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 epidemic and subsequent containment measures may inflate public awareness, risk perception and mental health burden. OBJECTIVE To assess the public awareness, risk perception and mental health burden in real time during the COVID-19 epidemic in China. METHODS We collected data from Sina Weibo, the most popular social media platforms in China, from December 2019 to March 2020. The daily number of Weibo posts with keywords related to COVID-19 were presented with daily data on confirmed COVID-19 cases. All Weibo posts were analysed by the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count text analysis program to assess the public risk perception and mental health burden, measured by anxiety, depression, and anger. RESULTS A total of 4,992,731 Weibo posts were collected. The first coronavirus death triggered public perceived risk of an imminent epidemic. Delayed release of epidemic information contributed to mental health burden. Mental health burden evolved with the uncertainty and consequent anxiety about the coronavirus epidemic. Public anxiety started to decline after confirmation of human-to-human transmission, yet depression tied to a bleak future in light of the epidemic and anger at the late dissemination of relevant information increased until the implementation of containment measures. CONCLUSIONS Early release of information on emerging infectious diseases and early implementation of containment measures might effectively manage public awareness and risk perception and the consequential mental health burden. Social media surveillance should be fully incorporated into epidemic preparedness and response systems.

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