Acceptance Of Nuclear Power Research Articles

Does Trust Matter? Analyzing the Impact of Trust on the Perceived Risk and Acceptance of Nuclear Power Energy

Recently, trust has been in vogue in the social sciences. However, in risk studies, there have been few causal models of trust. This study proposes and tests a causal model of trust in which (1) source credibility influences trust and (2) two kinds of trust—i.e., trust in government and trust in regulation—affect the perceived risk and acceptance of nuclear energy. Based on survey data with a sample of 1014 local residents living near a nuclear power station, we tested a causal model using structural equation modeling. As for the results of the analysis: first, we confirmed the validity of the proposed causal model of trust. Second, on the causal path, credibility directly influenced trust in government and trust in regulation and indirectly affected the perceived risk and acceptance of nuclear power. Third, the two kinds of trust had (in)direct impacts on perceived risk and acceptance. Trust in regulation had more power to explain perceived risks and acceptance than trust in government. Trust is important, but the kind of trust is more important.

Public acceptance of nuclear power among Malaysian students

Malaysian government’s aim to include nuclear energy for electricity generation has triggered various reactions from all especially the public. The objective of this study is to have a better understanding on the knowledge, sources of information of nuclear power and sources of energy chosen by Malaysian in 20 years’ time. Besides that, we want to examine the level of acceptance and perception of Malaysian towards nuclear energy and we want to identify the correlation between public perceptions with the acceptance towards nuclear power in Malaysia, and also to study the differences between perception and acceptance of nuclear power with gender and educational level. For this research methodology, the research questions are given orally or through paper-pencil and also social networking site such as Facebook or through electronic media application such as WhatsApp and Google docs. The data were analysed using a SPSS version 22.0 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). Results showed that more than 50% of the respondents have the knowledge of nuclear energy. A part of from that, only 39 % are confident government can afford to build NPP in Malaysia and 41 % disagree nuclear energy is the best option for future energy. From analysis using SPSS 22 we estimate negative perception will give a negative acceptance in term of support towards the use of nuclear energy in power generation in Malaysia. There are also slight correlation that the higher the level of education of Malaysian, the more negative the perception of Malaysian in accepting nuclear energy as source of power in Malaysia. Therefore in shaping a positive acceptance of NPP in Malaysia, the authorities need to educate the people with the knowledge of nuclear in order to overcome the negative perception towards nuclear power.

다차원적 편익지각이 원자력수용성에 미치는 영향에 대한 실증분석

다차원적 편익지각이 원자력수용성에 미치는 영향에 대한 실증분석

A Comparative Study on Strategies for Trust Recovery and Acceptance of Nuclear Power in Nuclear Power Plant Areas

본 연구는 한국의 4대 원전주변 지역 주민들의 원자력 수용성과 신뢰회복 전략을 모색하기 위한 이론적 모형을 구축하고, 이를 개인수준의 미시데이터를 통해서 실증 분석함으로써, 각 원전주변지역별로 독특한 특성을 규명하고, 향후 차별적인 신뢰회복 전략에 대한 함의를 도출하는데 목적이 있다. 즉, 영광, 울진, 고리, 월성의 국내의 4대 원전주변 지역의 주민들을 대상으로 사회인구적 특성, 위험지각 요인(지각된 위험와 편익, 낙인, 신뢰, 지식), 위험소통 요인(정보 질, 부정적 정보 량), 원자력 관련 사회적 사건(후쿠시마 사고, 원전비리), 지역특성(경제, 정치, 정체성) 등을 통합한 모형을 중심으로 원자력 수용성과 신뢰회복 전략(선호)에 미치는 영향을 규명하였다. 이를 통해서 각 지역별 독특한 차이를 다각적으로 살펴보고, 최근의 원자력 불신구조의 향후 방향성을 모색함에 있어서 지역별 특성을 고려한 신뢰회복 전략에 대한 시사점을 논의하였다.This study aims to search for strategies to improve local residents’ acceptance of nuclear power and trust recovery among people living near nuclear power station. For this objective, we built a theoretical model and empirically analyzed the micro-data at the individual level to highlight the particular attribute of each nuclear site, suggesting the implication of strategies for trust recovery. We examined the impact of (1) socio-demographic variables (gender, education, economic status, age, social class, ideology, and religion), (2) perceived risk (perceived risk, perceived benefit, trust, stigma, knowledge), (3) risk communication (quality of information, quantity of negative information), (4) social event (Fukushima accident, and corruption of KHNP), and (5) localities (economic, political characteristics and identity) on acceptance of nuclear power and strategies for trust recovery based on responses from local residents in four nuclear power stations in Korea. We discussed the implications of strategies for trust recovery considering the characteristics of localities.

Differentiated influences of benefit and risk perceptions on nuclear power acceptance according to acceptance levels: evidence from Korea

ABSTRACTThe perceived benefit and risk of nuclear power generation have received considerable attention as determinants of the public's nuclear power acceptance. However, the contingency of the relative importance of these benefit and risk has been less explored. Using Korea as an example, this study explores the possibility that the relative importance of perceived benefit and risk on nuclear power acceptance depends on acceptance levels. Our results from latent class analysis and multinomial probit show that, in determining whether an individual shows a moderate level of nuclear power acceptance rather than a low level, perceived risk plays a dominant role compared to perceived benefit; however, regarding whether he/she shows a high level of nuclear power acceptance rather than a moderate level, this relative importance is reversed. These results carry practical implications for risk governance of nuclear power, particularly with regard to communication with the public.

Differentiated influences of risk perceptions on nuclear power acceptance according to acceptance targets: Evidence from Korea

Abstract The determinants of the public's nuclear power acceptance have received considerable attention as decisive factors regarding nuclear power policy. However, the contingency of the relative importance of different determinants has been less explored. Building on the literature of psychological distance between the individual and the object, the present study demonstrates that the relative effects of different types of perceived risks regarding nuclear power generation differ across acceptance targets. Using a sample of Korea, our results show that, regarding national acceptance of nuclear power generation, perceived risk from nuclear power plants exerts a stronger negative effect than that from radioactive waste management; however, the latter exerts a stronger negative effect than the former on local acceptance of a nuclear power plant. This finding provides implications for efficient public communication strategy to raise nuclear power acceptance.

Comparison between a 13-session and One-time Program on Korean Elementary, Middle and High School Students’ Understanding of Nuclear Power

Background To help future generations make accurate value judgments about nuclear power generation and radiation, this study will provide an effective education plan suitable for South Korea by applying and analyzing programs for the understanding of nuclear power within the diversely operated programs in the current Korean education system. Materials and Methods This study analyzed the difference in educational effects by operating a 13-session regular curriculum for one semester and a one-session short-term curriculum from March to July 2016. Results and Discussion As a result of operating a 13-session model school and a one-time educational program to analyze behavior changes against the traditional learning model, it was found that all elementary, middle and high school students showed higher acceptability of nuclear power in South Korea. The variation was greater for the model school than the short-term program. Conclusion To prevent future generations from making biased policy decisions stemming from fear regarding nuclear power, it is necessary to bolster their value judgments in policy decisions by acquiring sufficient information about nuclear power generation and radiation through educational programs. Keywords: Nuclear power, Education, School, Student, Understanding

Big Data Analysis of Public Acceptance of Nuclear Power in Korea

Public acceptance of nuclear power is important for the government, the major stakeholder of the industry, because consensus is required to drive actions. It is therefore no coincidence that the governments of nations operating nuclear reactors are endeavoring to enhance public acceptance of nuclear power, as better acceptance allows stable power generation and peaceful processing of nuclear wastes produced from nuclear reactors. Past research, however, has been limited to epistemological measurements using methods such as the Likert scale. In this research, we propose big data analysis as an attractive alternative and attempt to identify the attitudes of the public on nuclear power. Specifically, we used common big data analyses to analyze consumer opinions via SNS (Social Networking Services), using keyword analysis and opinion analysis. The keyword analysis identified the attitudes of the public toward nuclear power. The public felt positive toward nuclear power when Korea successfully exported nuclear reactors to the United Arab Emirates. With the Fukushima accident in 2011 and certain supplier scandals in 2012, however, the image of nuclear power was degraded and the negative image continues. It is recommended that the government focus on developing useful businesses and use cases of nuclear power in order to improve public acceptance.

원전주변 갑상선암 발병 피해 소송 사건 이후 원자력에 대한 지역주민 인식 분석

The subjects in this study are the residents of Busan, analyzing the perception gap between the residents adjacent to the nuclear plant and living in town, about the lawsuit of thyroid cancer damage nearby the nuclear plant, to distinguish the citizen’s acceptance level about the nuclear power. 551 people(269 people adjacent to nuclear plant, 282 people in town) were face-to-face surveyed and the result showed that people’s perceptions of the nuclear power has changed after the thyroid cancer damage lawsuit. In the case of the residents adjacent to the nuclear plant, it became clear that the negative perception of nuclear power became stronger due to increasing distrust and anxiety about nuclear power after the lawsuit of thyroid cancer damage nearby the nuclear plant. On the other hand, people living in town showed their positive perceptions of nuclear power despite the thyroid cancer damage lawsuit. However, two-sided perception was shown compared to the acceptance of nuclear power, since the safety and reliability of the nuclear power was analyzed as negative perception. Therefore, for the constant increased use of nuclear power in the future, national understanding and credibility, including the communication with the nation or the residents in the neighboring area of nuclear power plant, will be necessary.

When it is unfamiliar to me: Local acceptance of planned nuclear power plants in China in the post-fukushima era

Many contributions have been made in the studies of the factors that influence public acceptance of nuclear power. However, previous studies seldom focused on nuclear power plants in the planning stage. Actually public perception is usually more sensitive at the preliminary planning stage of a nuclear power station. Mainly utilizing questionnaire survey and focus group methods, we have identified the factors that are correlated with local acceptance of planned nuclear power plants in China. We conducted our survey in two cities, Huludao, Liaoning province in northern China, and Shanwei, Guangdong province in southern China, where the local government was planning to build its first nuclear power plant. We find that people who live closer to the plant sites are less willing to accept nuclear power than those who live farther away. As for “surface psychology” factors, perceived benefits and risks significantly influence local acceptance. As for “deep psychology” factors, emotional identification and social trust can significantly influence local acceptance, while perceived knowledge cannot. When citizens are unfamiliar with nuclear power plants, they are more inclined to evaluate the benefits and risks through emotional identification and social trust, rather than through pure rational deduction based on concrete facts.

Understanding Attitudes Toward Nuclear Energy After the Fukushima Accident: Differences Between Asserted and Ambivalent Positions*

ObjectiveThe goal of this article is to understand the attitudes toward nuclear energy after the Fukushima accident. Such an analysis necessitates the avoidance of a dichotomous perspective (pro/against)—consider “supporter,” “neither‐nor,” and “opponent”—and to determine the effect of various factors on attitudes.MethodsThis study analyzes a 2013 Swiss survey that measures public attitudes toward nuclear energy.ResultsPublic acceptance of nuclear power remains lower two years after. Attitudinal structure of neither‐nor indicates ambivalence. Different factors explain the three positions.ConclusionsPublic attitudes toward nuclear energy are in line with Swiss energy strategy for 2050 to ban nuclear energy. These results draw practical implications for implementing political decisions and for policy communication.

Nuclear Power Acceptance Among University Staffs and Students

The need to consider alternative energy sources becomes very real. Nuclear has been identified as an alternative electricity source. However, media reports seem to indicate that there is a resistance among peoples with regards to harnessing nuclear for energy. This study was conducted to assess the acceptance level of university staff and students towards nuclear energy by asking them to answer a questionnaire. The questionnaire was constructed in a way to gauge their background knowledge on the energy situation of the country, the risks involved with regards to nuclear energy and also what aspects need to be improved in order to have a safe integration of nuclear energy into the national energy mix. The overall result of the questionnaire indicated high level of support for nuclear energy. The main areas of concerns however, were waste management, control and governance and also nuclear accidents. These should be identified as fields that require extra attention. However, the positive result obtained from this survey should not be construed as overall strong support in general. There might be different outcomes if the survey was conducted on to the general population as compared to the university students and staff that were involved in this research.

Insights into the Societal Risk of Nuclear Power Plant Accidents.

The elements of societal risk from a nuclear power plant accident are clearly illustrated by the Fukushima accident: land contamination, long-term relocation of large numbers of people, loss of productive farm area, loss of industrial production, and significant loss of electric capacity. NUREG-1150 and other studies have provided compelling evidence that the individual health risk of nuclear power plant accidents is effectively negligible relative to other comparable risks, even for people living in close proximity to a plant. The objective of this study is to compare the societal risk of nuclear power plant accidents to that of other events to which the public is exposed. We have characterized the monetized societal risk in the United States from major societally disruptive events, such as hurricanes, in the form of a complementary cumulative distribution function. These risks are compared with nuclear power plant risks, based on NUREG-1150 analyses and new MACCS code calculations to account for differences in source terms determined in the more recent SOARCA study. A candidate quantitative societal objective is discussed for potential adoption by the NRC. The results are also interpreted with regard to the acceptability of nuclear power as a major source of future energy supply.

A causal model explaining Chinese university students' acceptance of nuclear power

A causal model explaining Chinese university students' acceptance of nuclear power was tested. In our model, we hypothesized that perceived energy supply benefits, environmental benefits, and risks are determinants of Chinese university students' acceptance of nuclear power. We further assumed that trust affects perceived energy supply benefits, environmental benefits, and risk perception. In other words, trust indirectly affects acceptance. Structural equation modeling procedure was employed to test the hypothesized model, based on the data collected via a questionnaire survey of Chinese university students (N = 506). Results revealed that acceptance was mainly influenced by perceived energy supply benefits. In addition, perceived environmental benefits also had significantly positive impact on acceptance. Compared to the impact of perceived benefits on acceptance, perceived risks had a significantly smaller negative influence. Furthermore, trust strongly affected perceived energy supply benefits, environmental benefits, and risk perception. Therefore, emphasizing energy supply benefits of nuclear power seems to improve the level of acceptance when communicating to Chinese university students.

경험은 중요한가?: 원전지역 주민들의 경험 효과에 대한 분석

경험은 중요한가?: 원전지역 주민들의 경험 효과에 대한 분석

Exploring Attitude Change in Acceptance of Nuclear Power - The Use of the Conditional Stimuli Questions -

Exploring Attitude Change in Acceptance of Nuclear Power - The Use of the Conditional Stimuli Questions -

A Study on Obtaining the Public Acceptance of Nuclear Power for Conflict Resolution

A Study on Obtaining the Public Acceptance of Nuclear Power for Conflict Resolution

Changes in the Factors Influencing Public Acceptance of Nuclear Power Generation in Japan Since the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster

Public support for nuclear power generation has decreased in Japan since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in March 2011. This study examines how the factors influencing public acceptance of nuclear power changed after this event. The influence factors examined are perceived benefit, perceived risk, trust in the managing bodies, and pro-environmental orientation (i.e., new ecological paradigm). This study is based on cross-sectional data collected from two online nationwide surveys: one conducted in November 2009, before the nuclear accident, and the other in October 2011, after the accident. This study's target respondents were residents of Aomori, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures in the Tohoku region of Japan, as these areas were the epicenters of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the locations of nuclear power stations. After the accident, trust in the managing bodies was found to have a stronger influence on perceived risk, and pro-environmental orientation was found to have a stronger influence on trust in the managing bodies; however, perceived benefit had a weaker positive influence on public acceptance. We also discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.

Low-level radiation exposures: Time to revisit linear no-threshold concept

The concepts of LNT (Linear No-Threshold) and the resulting ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) used for radiological protection have been stumbling blocks for public acceptability of nuclear power. Often, public get confused and easily get exploited by interested people. The application of this concept has perhaps resulted in a more harmful phenomenon now known as radiophobia. Over the years, LNT has become the corner stone of radiation protection philosophy for the international organizations like ICRP, UNSCEAR etc. which is followed by all national regulators. The genesis of these theories is the cellular level findings of half a century back. Most of these are findings at high dose levels in macro systems and extrapolated to low dose. It is time that international radiation safety organizations revisit the assumptions and have a more pragmatic approach towards these abstract concepts in the light of new findings. The article reviews the evolution of LNT hypothesis and the basis for LNT, examines the possibility that there might be a threshold dose, below which there would be no radiation-related cancer risk. Evidences against LNT and the possible existence of a threshold dose are reviewed. The article concludes that this is definitely time to have a re-look of the corner stone concepts in radiation protection philosophy.

KOREAN STUDENTS' BEHAVIORAL CHANGE TOWARD NUCLEAR POWER GENERATION THROUGH EDUCATION

As a result of conducting a 45 minute-long seminar on the principles, state of use, advantages, and disadvantages of nuclear power generation for Korean elementary, middle, and high school students, the levels of perception including the necessity (p<0.017), safety (p<0.000), information acquisition (p<0.000), and subjective knowledge (p<0.000), objective knowledge (p<0.000), attitude (p<0.000), and behavior (p<0.000) were all significantly higher. This indicates that education can be effective in promoting widespread social acceptance of nuclear power and its continued use. In order to induce behavior change toward positive judgments on nuclear power generation, it is necessary to focus on attitude improvement while providing the information in all areas related to the perception, knowledge, attitude, and behavior. Here, the positive message on the convenience and the safety of nuclear power generation should be highlighted.