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
[email protected] International Symposium 50 years BVS-ABR, Brussels, 8-10 April 2013
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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) 22
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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) 33
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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) 44
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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) 55
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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 Programme started in at the end of the 90’s
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 6
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Current research themes linked to PISA
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Safeguards
Energy
Safety & RP
Sustainable energy policies
• Communication
Political research on proliferation
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• Risk perception • Safety culture
Waste
• Participation • Socio-technical approaches
• Ethical aspects
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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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2011, 2009 & 2006: How do you evaluate the risks for an ordinary citizen of Belgium from: Radioactive waste 2011 2009 2006
Risk perception
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
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2011, 2009 & 2006: How do you evaluate the risks for an ordinary citizen of Belgium from: Radioactive waste 2011 2009 2006
Risk perception
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
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Radiation risk perceptionimportance of the context Factor analysis reveals two factors Industry related risks Radioactive waste Accident nuclear installation Terrorist attack radioactive source
Other radiation risks
Disaster potential,
involuntary, tampering with nature, … Familiar,
Natural radiation Radiation from GSM’s Medical X-rays
voluntary, individual, …
But, factors are significantly correlated
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Opinion about nuclear energychanges after Fukushima
-14%
N=1020
+21%
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Attitude towards nuclear Theoretical insights from the literature 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).
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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
Attitude towards nuclear energy
3 items (e.g. “the benefits of nuclear energy outweigh its disadvantages”)
Independent variables Knowledge Exam style, multiple items
Confidence in managment of nuclear technolog. 5 items (e.g. “Nuclear reactors in Belgium are operated in a safe manner”) 14
Perception of nuclear risks 3 items (waste, accident, terrorist act with radioact. source) Copyright © 2013 SCK•CEN
Attitude towards nuclear Results Dependent variable: Attitude towards nuclear energy Independent variables Std. β Std. β Knowledge index 0.09** .019 Perception of nuclear -.210*** -.050 risks Confidence in NA .591*** management of nuclear technologies Adjusted R2 0.05 0.37
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.
Significant, 95% confidence level; ** Significant, 99% confidence level; ***Significant, 99.9% confidence level
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Attitude towards nuclear Results Dependent variable: Attitude towards nuclear energy Independent variables Std. β Std. β Knowledge index 0.09** .019 Perception of nuclear -.210*** -.050 risks Confidence in NA .591*** management of nuclear technologies Adjusted R2 0.05 0.37
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
Significant, 95% confidence level; ** Significant, 99% confidence level; ***Significant, 99.9% confidence level
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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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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). 21
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