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Changing expectations: a longitudinal study of community attitudes toward a nuclear power plant

Journal Article · · Am. J. Community Psychol.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00896601· OSTI ID:7017564
Initial and 5-year follow-up interviews were conducted with 213 residents of the host community for a nuclear power plant. The purpose was to determine possible changes in attitudes toward the plant and expectations about potential outcomes associated with construction. Large negative changes in attitudes toward the plant were noted and were accompanied most notably by decreased expectations of positive outcomes. The structure of the expectations remained essentially stable over the 5-year period. Perceptions of hazards, community disruption, and economic benefits as measured early in construction and during peak construction were found to be the best predictors of acceptance of the nuclear plant. Initial expectations were found to predict overall attitude toward the plant 5 years later. Results were discussed in terms of implications for social impact assessment, large-scale community change, and the predictability of community attitudes toward nuclear power plant construction.
Research Organization:
University of Missouri, Kansas City
OSTI ID:
7017564
Journal Information:
Am. J. Community Psychol.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Community Psychol.; (United States) Vol. 11:6; ISSN AJCPC
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English