Perceived risk and uncertainty of nuclear waste: Differences among science, business, and environmental group members

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Risk Analysis; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.1994.tb00297.x· OSTI ID:6558568

Jenkins-Smith, H ^[1]; Bassett, Jr, G W ^[2]

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1. Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
2. Univ. of Illinois, Chicago, IL (United States)

This paper presents survey results on perceived risk regarding the management of nuclear waste. Using data taken from random mail surveys of members of scientific, business, and environmental groups in Colorado and New Mexico in the summer of 1990, we examine differences between the groups in their expressed perceptions of risk and also their assessments of the certainty of their beliefs. We consider whether (a) greater uncertainty is associated with greater perceived risks and (b) whether there is greater responsiveness to new information for those whose beliefs are least certain. We find that there are connections between perceived risk and uncertainty, and there is a greater tendency to update risk assessments from a position of greater initial uncertainty. There are, however, differences between the groups as well as asymmetries in their responses to new information. The latter suggests that perceived risks will ratchet upward over time even when information is not biased toward more or less risk. 9 refs,. 7 figs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6558568
• Journal Information: Risk Analysis; (United States), Journal Name: Risk Analysis; (United States) Vol. 14:5; ISSN 0272-4332; ISSN RIANDF
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290202* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Sociology-- (1992-)
290600 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
ANIMALS
BUSINESS
HAZARDS
MAMMALS
MAN
MANAGEMENT
PERSONNEL
PRIMATES
PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL
PUBLIC OPINION
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
SCIENTIFIC PERSONNEL
VERTEBRATES
WASTE MANAGEMENT