동아시아 4개국 학생들의 핵에너지에 대한 인식 비교: 과학캠프에 참가한 한국, 일본, 대만, 싱가포르 10학년 학생들을 대상으로

Abstract

Abstract:This study was done at a scientific camp sponsored by Nara Women's University Secondary School,Japan. In this school, 10 th grade students from 4 East Asian countries: Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore,participated. We made a research on students' perceptions about nuclear energy. Sample populations include 77students in total, with 12 Korean, 46 Japanese, 9 Taiwanese and 10 Singaporean students. Overall perceptionscomparison about nuclear energy shows average values from the order of highest Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and tolowest, Japan. We implemented a T-test to identify perception differences about nuclear energy, with one group thatinclude 3 countries (Korea, Taiwan and Singapore) and another group that includes all the Japanese students. T-testresults of perceptions about nuclear energy shows students from the 3 countries of Korea, Taiwan and Singaporehaving higher average than Japanese students. (p<.05). Korean average scores regarding overall perceptions aboutnuclear energy show as the highest in all 4 East Asian countries and also highest in all subcategories. On the contraryin Japan, they have lower and negative perceptions of nuclear energy. In spite of these facts, perceptions of Japanesestudents about nuclear energy seem lowest and negative mainly because of the recent Fukushima nuclear power plantdisaster, caused by the tsunami and its subsequent damages and fears of radiation leaks, etc. This shows that negativeinformation about future disasters and its resulting damages like the Chernobyl nuclear accident could influence moreon people's risk perception than general information like nuclear energy-related technologies or the news that theplant is operating normally, etc. Even if the possibility of this kind of accident is very low, just one accident couldbring abnormal risks to technology itself. This strong signal makes negative image and strengthens its perceptions tothe people. This could bring a stigma about nuclear energy. This study shows that Government's policy about thehighest priority for nuclear energy safety is most important. As long as such perception and decision are fixed, wefound that it might not be easy to get changed again because they were already fortified and maintained. Key words: East Asian, scientific camp, perceptions about nuclear energy GongJushinwol Elementary School∙