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ID: 125708

Knowledge, risk, and policy support: public perceptions of nuclear power / Stoutenborough, James W; Sturgess, Shelbi G; Vedlitz, Arnold

Vedlitz, Arnold	Journal Article
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2013.

Summary/Abstract

Nuclear energy was becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to air polluting fossil fuel technologies through the latter half of the 2000s. The tragic events of March 11, 2011 in Fukushima, Japan appear to have instantly killed any momentum the nuclear industry had gained. While unfortunate, many argue that nuclear power is still a safe alternative and that the Fukushima disaster resulted from insufficient safety regulations in Japan, a problem that does not exist in the United States. This project examines U.S. public support for nuclear energy one year after the Fukushima tragedy, seeking to understand the influence of knowledge and risk perceptions on policy support. We evaluate public support for nuclear energy policy from several perspectives using risk and attitudinal measurements that are more specific than often found in the literature to obtain a greater understanding of the connection between policy and risk.

Key Words

Nuclear Energy ; Public Opinion ; Risk

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ID: 149997

Role of scientific knowledge in the public's perceptions of energy technology risks / Stoutenborough, James W; Vedlitz, Arnold

Vedlitz, Arnold	Journal Article
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Summary/Abstract

It is important for policy makers to have an accurate understanding of public attitudes toward pressing issues to help inform their decision making. Researchers consistently find that the public’s receipt of and correct processing of scientific information and knowledge are essential for its problem solving. Different levels of understanding of specific energy technologies may produce different risk assessments across technologies within this issue domain. How this differential risk assessment occurs and the role that scientific information may play in it is not yet well known. This project seeks to determine the role that perceived and objective scientific knowledge may play in the public’s risk assessments of different energy technologies. Our findings suggest that scientific knowledge does temper public risk evaluations of different energy technologies, therefore linking more clearly the connection between science knowledge, scientific trust, and issue problem identification.

Key Words

Energy Technologies ; Risk Assessments ; Public's Scientific Knowledge ; Knowledge Deficit Model

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