Risk and Benefit Perceptions, Acceptability Judgments, and Self-Reported Actions toward Nuclear Power

TLDR

The study focuses on methodological issues in researching risk perceptions, acceptability judgments, and actions. A questionnaire was administered to 367 participants from diverse groups in two U.S. communities to assess personal actions toward nuclear power and related attitudes, cognition, and demographics.

Abstract

Summary Three-hundred and sixty-seven respondents selected from five widely differing groups in two U.S. communities were administered a questionnaire tapping personal action for or against nuclear power, as well as a variety of attitudinal, cognitive, and sociodemographic variables. Respondents included members of environmental groups, college students, blue-collar workers, business people, and nuclear engineers and other technologists. The results indicated that degree of self-reported action was systematically correlated with the rated "acceptability," risks, benefits, and qualitative characteristics of nuclear power. The results also pointed to other major correlates of personal action, including confidence in various risk-management institutions and organizations. Emphasis is placed upon general methodological issues involved in the study of risk perceptions, acceptability judgments, and actions.