Abstract
Over the last five years, risk communication has emerged as an important risk research issue. Recently, Covello, Slovic, and Von Winterfeldt [1987] have identified and summarized the most important risk communication issues. Chief among these was the need for empirical research on how to communicate risks effectively. An Environmental Protection Agency [1987] study, which noted the lack of such studies within the agency, reinforces this point. Because risk communication is becoming an important policy tool for government agencies to manage risks, the value of knowing more about communicating risks effectively is further enhanced.
This paper summarizes the findings of two studies that provide some insights on how to communicate risks effectively. The first study involves a technological hazard, the risks from exposure to hazardous wastes. The insights are drawn from both a series of focus groups and a random survey of 600 households in suburban Boston. The second study combines focus group findings with a longitudinal study of 2300 randomly selected homeowners in New York State. This second study involves the risk from exposure to naturally occurring radon gas.
The results from these two studies suggest two basic principles for communicating risk effectively: (1) the context of the risk affects communication and (2) both numerical and visual aids can enhance effectiveness. One of the most important factors affecting context is whether the risk is from a technological or natural hazard.
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© 1989 Plenum Press, New York
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Desvousges, W.H., Smith, V.K. (1989). The Use of Focus Groups in Risk Communication. In: Bonin, J.J., Stevenson, D.E. (eds) Risk Assessment in Setting National Priorities. Advances in Risk Analysis, vol 7. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5682-0_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5682-0_2
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