Confluence and contours: reflexive management of environmental risk

Soane, Emma, Schubert, Iljana, Pollard, Simon, Rocks, Sophie and Black, Edgar (2016) Confluence and contours: reflexive management of environmental risk. Risk Analysis, 36 (6). pp. 1090-1107. ISSN 1539-6924

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Abstract

Government institutions have responsibilities to distribute risk management funds meaningfully and to be accountable for their choices. We took a macro-level sociological approach to understanding the role of government in managing environmental risks, and insights from micro-level psychology to examine individual-level risk-related perceptions and beliefs. Survey data from 2179 UK citizens showed that lay people's funding preferences were associated positively with beliefs about responsibility and trust, yet associations with perception varied depending on risk type. Moreover, there were risk-specific differences in the funding preferences of the lay sample and 29 policy makers. A laboratory based study of 109 participants examined funding allocation in more detail through iterative presentation of expert information. Quantitative and qualitative data revealed a meso-level framework comprising three types of decision makers who varied in their willingness to change funding allocation preferences following expert information: adaptors, responders and resistors. This research highlights the relevance of integrated theoretical approaches to understanding the policy process, and the benefits of reflexive dialogue to managing environmental risks.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(IS...
Additional Information:	© 2015 Society for Risk Analysis
Library of Congress subject classification:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD61 Risk Management
Sets:	Departments > Management
Project and Funder Information:	Project ID Funder Name Funder ID FP0101 Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs UNSPECIFIED EP/G022682/1 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000266 UNSPECIFIED Natural Environment Research Council http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000270 UNSPECIFIED Economic and Social Research Council http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000269
Projects:	FP0101, EP/G022682/1
Funders:	Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Natural Environment Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council
Date Deposited:	30 Sep 2015 08:19
URL:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/63823/

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