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The influence of linear and cyclical temporal representations on risk perception of nuclear waste: an experimental study.
- Source :
- Journal of Risk Research; May2012, Vol. 15 Issue 5, p459-476, 18p, 1 Diagram, 2 Charts, 2 Graphs
- Publication Year :
- 2012
-
Abstract
- Time is an important aspect of the issue of nuclear waste, both from a technical and from a perceptional perspective. Previous studies have investigated the relationship between time and risk perception of nuclear waste, applying the discounting paradigm and therefore limiting time to one very narrow aspect: its duration. However, time is a multifaceted concept and encompasses more than a linear property. The aim of our study is to test the influence of a different aspect of time, namely temporal representations (linear or cyclical) on risk perception of nuclear waste. In an experimental study we demonstrate that both linear and cyclical representations have a reducing effect on risk perception compared to the control condition, where no specific time representation was activated. Examining group differences, we also demonstrate that temporal representations have a differing influence depending on whether participants have a stable belief about nuclear waste or whether they belong to an ambivalent group that does not yet hold a stable belief. Furthermore, we replicate the well-documented gender gap in risk perception. Our results bear potentially interesting implications for risk communication by demonstrating a causal relationship between the graphic representation of time and risk perception of nuclear waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 13669877
- Volume :
- 15
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Risk Research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 72337999
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/13669877.2011.636836