the case of risk perception and attitudes · copyright © 2013 2 sck•cen2 why social science in...
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Copyright © 2013
SCK•CEN 1
ON THE NEED FOR INTEGRATION OF SOCIAL ASPECTS
INTO NUCLEAR RESEARCH:
THE CASE OF RISK PERCEPTION AND
ATTITUDES
C. Turcanu
SCK•CEN
Unit Nuclear Science and Technology Studies
International Symposium 50 years BVS-ABR,
Brussels, 8-10 April 2013
Copyright © 2013
SCK•CEN 2
Why social science in nuclear research?
Some examples
Risk perception
Human behaviour is primarily driven by perception and not by facts, or by
what is understood as facts by risk analysts and scientists (Renn, 2008)
“Kim Klijsters geeft Jada jodium tegen radioactieve wolk “ (HbvL.be)
Stakeholder involvement
“All stakeholders with an interest in nuclear decisions should be provided
with an opportunity for full and effective participation” (IAEA, 2006)
Belgian local partnerships for LILW disposal
Communication
“Public communication [is] one of the most important challenges in
emergency management” (IAEA, 2012)
Most conflictual topic in media reporting about the accident in Fukushima:
public information (Perko et al 2011, BLG report)
Specific theories & research methods
2
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SCK•CEN 3
Why social science in nuclear research?
Some examples
Risk perception
Human behaviour is primarily driven by perception and not by facts, or by
what is understood as facts by risk analysts and scientists (Renn, 2008)
“Kim Klijsters geeft Jada jodium tegen radioactieve wolk “ (HbvL.be)
Stakeholder involvement
“All stakeholders with an interest in nuclear decisions should be provided
with an opportunity for full and effective participation” (IAEA, 2006)
Belgian local partnerships for LILW disposal
Communication
“Public communication [is] one of the most important challenges in
emergency management” (IAEA, 2012)
Most conflictual topic in media reporting about the accident in Fukushima:
public information (Perko et al 2011, BLG report)
Specific theories & research methods
3
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SCK•CEN 4
Why social science in nuclear research?
Some examples
Risk perception
Human behaviour is primarily driven by perception and not by facts, or by
what is understood as facts by risk analysts and scientists (Renn, 2008)
“Kim Klijsters geeft Jada jodium tegen radioactieve wolk “ (HbvL.be)
Stakeholder involvement
“All stakeholders with an interest in nuclear decisions should be provided
with an opportunity for full and effective participation” (IAEA, 2006)
Belgian local partnerships for LILW disposal
Communication
“Public communication [is] one of the most important challenges in
emergency management” (IAEA, 2012)
Most conflictual topic in media reporting about the accident in Fukushima:
public information (Perko et al 2011, BLG report)
Specific theories & research methods
4
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SCK•CEN 5
Why social science in nuclear research?
Some examples
Risk perception
Human behaviour is primarily driven by perception and not by facts, or by
what is understood as facts by risk analysts and scientists (Renn, 2008)
“Kim Klijsters geeft Jada jodium tegen radioactieve wolk “ (HbvL.be)
Stakeholder involvement
“All stakeholders with an interest in nuclear decisions should be provided
with an opportunity for full and effective participation” (IAEA, 2006)
Belgian local partnerships for LILW disposal
Communication
“Public communication [is] one of the most important challenges in
emergency management” (IAEA, 2012)
Most conflictual topic in media reporting about the accident in Fukushima:
public information (Perko et al 2011, BLG report)
Specific theories & research methods
5
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SCK•CEN 6 6
PISA: Programme on
Integration of Social Aspects into nuclear research
Rationale:
To better understand the risks and benefits of
(nuclear) technologies, we need to reflect on
the context of application and the related technical,
political, economic, social and ethical aspects
Focus on social, ethical and political aspects
Natural and social scientists together
Insight in particularities of nuclear + structured
methodological approach to aspects typically
pertaining to social sciences
Programme started
in at the end of the
90’s
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Safeguards
• Political
research on
proliferation
Current research themes linked to PISA
Energy
• Sustainable
energy policies
Safety & RP
• Communication
• Risk perception
• Safety culture
• Ethical aspects
Waste
• Participation
• Socio-technical
approaches
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SCK•CEN 8
The SCK•CEN Barometer
National survey in the Belgian population
Computer Assisted Personal Interviews (35 to 45 min at
respondent’s home)
N >1000 => sample representative for Belgian 18+
population (for province, region, level of urbanisation,
gender, age and professionally active status)
Steered by multidisciplinary and international committee
Permanent topics risk perception, trust, confidence +
additional topics (in focus)
Editions: 2002, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013 (forthcoming)
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SCK•CEN 9
Risk
perce
ptio
n
Radioactive waste 2011
2009
2006
Accident nuclear installation 2011
2009
2006
Terrorist attack radioactive source 2011
2009
2006
Natural radiation (Rn, cosmic) 2011
2009
2006
Medical X-rays 2011
2009
2006
N>1000
2011, 2009 & 2006: How do you evaluate the risks
for an ordinary citizen of Belgium from:
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SCK•CEN 10
Risk
perce
ptio
n
Radioactive waste 2011
2009
2006
Accident nuclear installation 2011
2009
2006
Terrorist attack radioactive source 2011
2009
2006
Natural radiation (Rn, cosmic) 2011
2009
2006
Medical X-rays 2011
2009
2006
N>1000
2011, 2009 & 2006: How do you evaluate the risks
for an ordinary citizen of Belgium from:
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Radiation risk perception-
importance of the context
Factor analysis reveals two factors
Industry related risks
Radioactive waste
Accident nuclear installation
Terrorist attack radioactive source
Other radiation risks
Natural radiation
Radiation from GSM’s
Medical X-rays
But, factors are significantly correlated
Disaster potential,
involuntary,
tampering with nature,
…
Familiar,
voluntary,
individual,
…
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Opinion about nuclear energy-
changes after Fukushima
-14% +21%
N=1020
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Attitudes influence and are influenced by beliefs about an object and
his evaluations of the object's attributes (Fishbein and Ajzen, 1975)
People respond to hazards based on their perception of the risks
they pose
Trust influences risk perception (Whitfield el al, 2009) and perceived
benefits and risks (Visschers et al, 2013)
Higher trust in the institutions responsible for nuclear governance
and lower risk perception predict a more positive attitude towards
nuclear energy (Whitfield el al, 2009).
Affect and worldviews are highly predictive of risk perception and
support for nuclear technologies (Peters & Slovic, 1996).
Attitude towards nuclear
Theoretical insights from the literature
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SCK•CEN 14
Attitude towards nuclear
Potential predictors
Our study investigated the influence of several risk characteristics on
the attitude/opinion about nuclear energy
Data: SCK•CEN Barometer 2011
Model
Dependent variable
Independent variables
Attitude towards
nuclear energy
3 items (e.g. “the benefits of
nuclear energy outweigh its
disadvantages”)
Knowledge
Exam style, multiple items
Perception of
nuclear risks
3 items (waste, accident,
terrorist act with radioact.
source)
Confidence in
managment of
nuclear technolog.
5 items (e.g. “Nuclear
reactors in Belgium are
operated in a safe manner”)
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Significant, 95% confidence level; ** Significant, 99%
confidence level; ***Significant, 99.9% confidence level
Higher knowledge and
lower risk perception lead
to more positive attitude
towards nuclear energy
Higher confidence in the
safe management of
nuclear technologies leads
to more positive attitude
towards nuclear energy.
Attitude towards nuclear
Results
Dependent
variable:
Attitude towards
nuclear energy
Independent variables Std. β Std. β
Knowledge index 0.09** .019
Perception of nuclear
risks
-.210*** -.050
Confidence in
management of nuclear
technologies
NA .591***
Adjusted R2 0.05 0.37
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Significant, 95% confidence level; ** Significant, 99%
confidence level; ***Significant, 99.9% confidence level
Knowledge and risk
perception are weak
predictors for attitudes and
opinions
Confidence in the safe
management of nuclear
technologies plays a more
important role in the
formation of attitudes
Attitude towards nuclear
Results
Dependent
variable:
Attitude towards
nuclear energy
Independent variables Std. β Std. β
Knowledge index 0.09** .019
Perception of nuclear
risks
-.210*** -.050
Confidence in
management of nuclear
technologies
NA .591***
Adjusted R2 0.05 0.37
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Factors pro/contra
nuclear energy
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Factors pro/contra
nuclear energy
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Conclusions (1)
Industry related risks are perceived higher than other radiation
risks, but the two factors are positively correlated
Increasing general knowledge about the nuclear field will have a
limited effect towards a more positive attitude as regards nuclear
energy
Confidence in the safe management of nuclear technologies is a
driving factor for people's acceptance of nuclear energy.
The main factors pleading in favour or against nuclear energy are
similar, both for opponents and proponents of nuclear energy
the strength of the relations varies among the two groups.
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Conclusions (2)
Interdisciplinary approaches are needed to address non-technical
issues in the nuclear field
The PISA programme of the SCK•CEN promotes and supports a
reflective, open, integrative, anticipatory and engaged attitude
that serves research, policy making and thus society.
The results of this research contribute to increasing awareness of
social aspects and, at the same time, to improved risk
governance processes
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SCK•CEN 21
Stages in risk perception and communication
All we have to do is get the numbers right
All we have to do is tell them the numbers
All we have to do is explain what we mean by the
numbers
All we have to do is show them that they’ve accepted
similar risks
All we have to do is show them that it’s a good deal for
them
All we have to do is treat them nice
All we have to do is make them partners
All of the above
Source: Fischhoff, B (1995). Risk perception and communication unplugged: 20 years of
process. Risk Analysis 15 (2).
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Copyright © 2013 - SCKCEN
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SCK•CEN
Studiecentrum voor Kernenergie
Centre d'Etude de l'Energie Nucléaire
Belgian Nuclear Research Centre
Stichting van Openbaar Nut
Fondation d'Utilité Publique
Foundation of Public Utility
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