Risk Perception Process Research Articles

From power to financial risk: The mediating role of cognitive flexibility and risk perception

Risky decisions made by powerful individuals have significant financial implications for businesses and society. Understanding the factors influencing these decisions is crucial. Research indicates that people with a high sense of power are more prone to take investment and gambling risks, yet the role of individual differences remains underexplored. This study (N = 245) investigates cognitive flexibility as a potential mediator between power and financial risk-taking. Results reveal that a sense of power enhances cognitive flexibility and reduces risk perception in both investment and gambling contexts. Consequently, powerful individuals exhibit an increased propensity for risky financial behaviors. Furthermore, a serial mediation effect was identified, showing that cognitive flexibility and risk perception together mediate the relationship between power and risky financial choices. These findings offer novel insights into how cognitive flexibility can explain the link between power and financial risk-taking, highlighting its role in shaping risk perception and decision-making processes.

2F1-2 Extracting Risk Perception Processes in the Emergency Room by Debriefing Using Eye Tracking

2F1-2 Extracting Risk Perception Processes in the Emergency Room by Debriefing Using Eye Tracking

The Role of Social Capital in Climate Change Adaptation: Small Farmers’ Perspective

Climate change represents a major challenge for businesses and society. Small farmers in emerging economies are most vulnerable to extreme weather events and must adapt their strategies and operations. Adaptive decision-making depends on the risk perception and the availability of resources, which can be a major limitation for the context of small farmers. Our study investigates how farmers perceive climate change risks and decide on climate adaptation. We explore the small farmers` vulnerability, risk perception, and decision-making process with in-depth interviews with small farmers in different network contexts. Our data reveal that small farmers, isolated in terms of communication and support regarding climate adaptation, used social exchanges to learn and adapt. However, as the social network was the primary source of information, knowledge, and experience sharing, the quality of network relationships made a difference. Thus, the importance of social capital to enable climate adaptation.

How do perceptions of Covid-19 risk impact pregnancy-related health decisions? A convergent parallel mixed-methods study protocol.

Pregnant people have a higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease. They have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 infection control policies, which exacerbated conditions resulting in intimate partner violence, healthcare access, and mental health distress. This project examines the impact of accumulated individual health decisions and describes how perinatal care and health outcomes changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Quantitative strand: Describe differences between 2019, 2021, and 2022 birth groups related to maternal vaccination, perinatal care, and mental health care. Examine the differential impacts on racialized and low-income pregnant people.Qualitative strand: Understand how pregnant people's perceptions of COVID-19 risk influenced their decision-making about vaccination, perinatal care, social support, and mental health. This is a Canadian convergent parallel mixed-methods study. The quantitative strand uses a retrospective cohort design to assess birth group differences in rates of Tdap and COVID-19 vaccination, gestational diabetes screening, length of post-partum hospital stay, and onset of depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorder, using administrative data from ICES, formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (Ontario) and PopulationData BC (PopData) (British Columbia). Differences by socioeconomic and ethnocultural status will also be examined. The qualitative strand employs qualitative description to interview people who gave birth between May 2020- December 2021 about their COVID-19 risk perception and health decision-making process. Data integration will occur during design and interpretation. This study received ethical approval from McMaster University and the University of British Columbia. Findings will be disseminated via manuscripts, presentations, and patient-facing infographics. Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov registration number: NCT05663762.

Plateau effect on driver’s hazard perception response mode: Graph construction approach

It is crucial for drivers to conduct rapid and effective risk perception and response processes when faced with hazardous driving situations. The low pressure and oxygen environment in the plateau results in a greater workload of drivers, contributing to a significant decline in perception and response ability. This study proposes a graph construction approach to model drivers’ hazard response modes (HRMs) in plateau areas. A total of 31 drivers (23 males) aged 21 to 55 years (M [age] = 28.0 years, M [driving experience] = 6.5 years) were recruited to participate in four hazard perception experiments using a UC-WIN/ROAD driving simulator. The experiments were successively conducted in five cities with different altitudes, including Nanjing (50 m), Nyingchi (2,995 m), Lhasa (3,650 m), Nagqu (4,460 m), and Yanghu Scenic Spot (4,998 m). Then, according to the graph construction approach, four HRMs for drivers were extracted. In addition, two series of generalized linear models were proposed to analyze the relationships between the perception reaction time (PRT), HRM, altitude, age, acclimation period, gender, and driving experience. The effects of significant variables, including scenario types, altitude, acclimation period, driving experience, and gender, were used in the construction of HRM and risk perception ability of plateau drivers. These results showed that constructing HRMs to model the driving styles of plateau drivers is feasible and effective, enabling future driving assistance systems to be better customized for drivers in such a particular condition.

The Influencing Mechanism of Incidental Emotions on Risk Perception: Evidence from Event-Related Potential

Incidental emotions would lead to accidents by influencing risk perception. However, few works of research further studied how incidental emotions affect risk perception at the neurological level. Before the experimental task, we used video clips for emotion elicitation. Then, the event-related potential (ERP) technique was used to obtain data on the risk perception process. The results showed that: compared to neutral emotion, the participants' average reaction time was significantly shorter in positive and negative incidental emotion. Under negative incidental emotion, individuals overestimated risk and had a more significant deviation in risk perception; the amplitude of P2 and N2 components increased, and the amplitude of LPP component decreased under negative incidental emotion. Under positive incidental emotion, individuals' correct-response rate was higher. These findings indicated that incidental emotions affected the mid-term risk analysis stage and the late risk judgment stage of risk perception. In the mid-term risk analysis stage, individuals processed high-risk information with a negativity bias which led to stronger cognitive conflict, while individuals assessed risks more accurately due to a larger attentional span under positive incidental emotions. In the late risk judgment stage, individuals under negative incidental emotion devoted few attentional resources to risk information which led to a risk judgment deviation. In contrast, individuals had a more detailed cognitive process of risk information under positive incidental emotion. On these bases, this paper confirmed the influence of incidental emotions on risk perception and established an emotional information-processing model. This study provided a reference for emotional interventions to facilitate accident prevention.

Exploring the Dynamic Characteristics of Public Risk Perception and Emotional Expression during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sina Weibo

(1) Background: Risk perception is a key factor in motivating people to comply with preventive behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Appropriate risk perception is important to enhance beliefs and promote emergency management response to public health events. (2) Objective: This study developed a public risk perception measurement method for social media data to understand the dynamic characteristics of risk perception and emotional expression during public health emergencies. (3) Methods: Utilizing text-mining techniques and deep-learning algorithms, risk perception was calculated from two dimensions (dread and unknown) as well as the emotional expression characteristics of 185,025 posts from 10 January 2020 to 20 March 2020 on Sina Weibo. We also analyzed the characteristics of risk perception at different stages of the crisis life cycle. Furthermore, drawing on arousal theory, we constructed dynamic response relationships between emotion type (angry, fearful, sad, positive, and neutral) and risk perceptions by a vector autoregressive (VAR) model. (4) Results: The results revealed that the public expresses significantly more dread words than unknown words in shaping the risk perception process. As for the characteristics of evolution, public risk perception had been at a high level since the outbreak stage, and there was a sudden increase and a gradual decrease in the level of public risk perception. We also found that there is a significant response relationship between positive emotion, angry emotion, and risk perception. (5) Conclusion: This study provides a theoretical basis for more targeted epidemic crisis interventions. It points out the need for health communication strategy makers to consider the public’s risk perception and emotional expression characteristics during public health emergencies.

Perceptions of Risk and Decision-Making in Renewable Energy Investments

The transition to renewable energy is crucial for sustainable development, yet it is fraught with complexities involving risk perception and decision-making processes. This study aims to delve into the qualitative aspects of how investors perceive risks and make decisions within the renewable energy sector. Understanding these dynamics can help optimize investment strategies and policy formulations to better support the growth of renewable energy technologies. This qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 26 professionals involved in renewable energy investments, including investors, project managers, and financial analysts. Theoretical saturation was achieved to ensure comprehensive coverage of perceptions and experiences. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis, identifying themes and categories related to risk perception and investment decision-making processes. Five main themes were identified: Risk Perception, Investment Motivations, Decision-Making Processes, Strategic Responses, and Challenges and Barriers. Within these, participants highlighted various risks (market, technological, environmental, political, financial) and motivations (profit potential, environmental impact, government incentives, CSR). Decision-making processes were marked by thorough information gathering, risk assessment, and strategic planning. Strategic responses included risk mitigation, innovation adoption, and partnership development. Significant challenges included funding difficulties, regulatory hurdles, market entry barriers, technical challenges, and issues with public perception. The study underscores the complexity of investing in renewable energy, influenced heavily by a variety of perceived risks and strategic considerations. Effective investment decision-making in this sector requires not only recognizing and mitigating risks but also capitalizing on motivations that align with sustainable and profitable outcomes. Strategic planning and adaptations to emerging market conditions and technological advancements are crucial for overcoming barriers and maximizing investment returns.

Conceptualizing safer sex in a new era: Risk perception and decision-making process among highly sexually active men who have sex with men.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at the epicenter of the HIV epidemic. Efforts to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV transmission have traditionally focused on condoms and abstinence from high risk sexual practices. Recently, additional methods such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and viral load sorting have been introduced. The aim of this study was to gain understanding about risk management and risk perception strategies for HIV among highly sexually active Swedish MSM with men in Berlin. Eighteen sexually active Swedish MSM who travelled to or lived in Berlin were recruited and interviewed in this study. The data were analyzed using content analysis. These men represent a group of knowledgeable MSM in terms of HIV. They acknowledged that having sex with men in Berlin was linked to high sexual risk taking due to the higher prevalence of HIV/STIs than in Sweden, but reported that they nevertheless did not alter their risk management strategies. The analysis resulted in a conceptual model of risk assessment that allows for a deeper understanding of the complexity of the risk reduction decision-making process. Three ontological perceptions of risk were identified: accepting, minimizing and rejecting risk. Seven practiced risk reduction methods were described. Some informants applied their preferred method or set of methods to all settings and partners, while others faced complex decision-making processes. HIV is integrated into the core of MSM's sexuality, independently of how they ontologically related to the idea of risk. A constant navigation between pleasure, risk and safety, alongside having to relate to risk created a complex process. Efforts were made to remove HIV from their lives by rejecting the idea of risk, and thereby reject the idea of the homosexual body being a possible vessel for a virus and an epidemic.

The role of feedback in shaping responses to risky road scenarios: Evidence from electrodermal activity

When faced with hazardous driving situations, rapid and effective risk perception and decision-making processes are of crucial importance for avoiding crashes. In these cases, the processes are accompanied and influenced by underlying psychophysiological mechanisms such as electrodermal activity (EDA) modulations. The present work aims to assess the psychophysiological mechanisms underlying participants’ risk perception and decision-making when facing risky road scenarios, as correlated to the feedback role in modulating participants’ behavior. Study 1 (n = 32) explores the behavioral effects of administering a contingent feedback in a decision (decision-making) and an evaluation (risk perception) task in response to a set of risky and not risky images. The behavioral data reveal an effect on the participants’ probability of response, independently from the type of image presented, when the feedback was administered. In the decision task, the effect is accompanied by a change in the amplitude and percentage of the skin conductance responses (SCRs), which are moderated by block of trials. Study 2 (n = 44) better assesses the role of task and block on participants’ physiological activation, as measured by EDA signal. The results show an increase in psychophysiological activation when the feedback is delivered, in the first part of the tasks, both in terms of SCRs amplitude and percentage to the presented road scenarios, followed by a decrease in the second part of the tasks. Moreover, this effect is more evident in the decision task than the evaluation task. These findings suggest that the role exerted by feedback when facing risky traffic images may be described as based on an associative process that, once the correct response has been learned, tends to be reduced as it becomes automatic. Overall, the results of the two studies represent an important step toward the development of training programs aimed at promoting safer behaviors in risky driving contexts.

Risk perception trajectory of elderly chronic disease patients in the community under COVID-19: A qualitative research

IntroductionWhile traditional “non-medical” prevention and control measures have achieved remarkable results during the COVID-19 pandemic, they have generated difficult situations for older adult patients with chronic disease. The purpose of this study was to understand and identify the COVID-19 risk perception process and trajectory among older adults with chronic disease living in the community. Material and methodsThis was a qualitative research study that used in-depth semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of 21 older adult patients with chronic disease. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis methods. ResultsThree themes emerged: restricted travel, psychological shock and panic, and unintended consequences. ConclusionsThe perceptions of epidemic risk among older adult patients with chronic disease living in the community had varying characteristics at different stages. Correct identification of risk perception processes and trajectories will assist in formulating more scientific emergency measures in the event of future public health emergencies.

How consumers’ perception and information processing affect their acceptance of genetically modified foods in China: A risk communication perspective

This study aims to explore the roles of consumers’ risk and benefit perception and food information processes in predicting their acceptance of genetically modified food. We integrate the protective action decision and heuristic systematic models to develop a conceptual model to predict customers’ purchase intention. We conducted a survey questionnaire with measures adapted from existing Likert scales. We used a sample of 573 respondents from Shandong Province, China, comprising people who had ever purchased genetically modified products. We tested our hypotheses using a structural equation model. Results suggest that perceived risk is a negative determinant of purchase intention, while perceived benefit is a positive factor of purchase intention. Moreover, perceived benefit is an important predictor of purchase intention. Perceived risk significantly affects information need, information seeking, and systematic processing. Perceived benefit has a positive relationship with information need and systematic processing. Information seeking is stimulated by information need and further predicts systematic processing. Our results suggest the effectiveness of the protective action decision and heuristic systematic models in predicting people’s intention to purchase genetically modified food and highlight the importance of risk communications in this context.

COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors and its Related Beliefs among Health Workers: The Role of Threat and Coping Appraisals

Aims: Health workers are at high risk of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) and preventive behaviors play an important role in reducing the incidence and deaths of this infection. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors and its Related Beliefs among Health Workers of Hamadan province using the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM). Instruments & Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 950 health workers in Hamadan, in 2020 who were selected by multistage random sampling method. The data were collected using a questionnaire including demographic information and EPPM constructs. Data were analyzed in STATA 14 using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation test. Findings: Behaviors of avoiding contact with others and frequent hand washing with soap and water with 97.8% and 95.3%, respectively, had the highest frequency among health personnel. The condition of EPPM constructs was evaluated at a relatively favorable level. Also, 46.0% of health personnel were involved in the risk perception process. Conclusion: It is necessary to improve the level of perceived self-efficacy of employees and also to emphasize the effectiveness of the recommended strategies in the prevention of Covid-19 disease.

Earthquake Disaster Risk Perception Process Model for Rural Households: A Pilot Study from Southwestern China.

There are many important factors to consider when creating robust, regional disaster prevention systems. These include rural households’ knowledge and reported skills of earthquake disasters, disaster risk perception, awareness of disaster risk reduction, willingness to purchase insurance, and willingness to relocate to avoid disasters. However, few empirical studies have systematically established the theoretical research frameworks to analyze these factors. This study analyzed the data sampled from 241 rural households located in counties affected by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. A theoretical model was designed to investigate rural households’ disaster risk perception and used path analysis to systematically analyze the mechanism of the factors stated above. The results showed that 53.11% of rural households had a stronger willingness to purchase disease insurance and 72.19% had a stronger willingness to relocate to avoid disasters. Risk perception, knowledge and reported skills, and awareness of disaster risk reduction were significantly correlated with a willingness to purchase disaster insurance. Risk perception and awareness of disaster risk reduction were significantly positively correlated with a willingness to relocate to avoid disasters. Knowledge and reported skills indirectly affected the willingness to purchase insurance and the willingness to relocate to avoid disasters through risk perception and awareness of disaster risk reduction. Risk perception could indirectly affect the willingness to purchase insurance and the willingness to relocate to avoid disasters through awareness of disaster risk reduction.

Detecting and measuring construction workers' vigilance through hybrid kinematic-EEG signals

Abstract Safety management in construction is crucial to the success of a project. A large amount of accidents is the results of construction workers unsafe behaviors, which associated with inappropriate risk detection and perception. Recently, researchers proposed to implement electroencephalograph (EEG) to measure construction workers' perceived risks based on their vigilance status. However, the EEG signals are often contaminated by the artifacts that caused by muscle movements and traditional stationary measurement metrics are not suitable for wearable implementation in the construction industry. To fill in this research gap, this study proposed a new hybrid kinematic-EEG data type and adopted wavelet packet decomposition to compute the vigilance measurement indices with redefined the EEG sub-bands. A validation experiment was conducted to examine thirty candidate vigilance indicators and two mature measurement metrics were compared to select the most proper and consistent indicators. The experiment results suggested three indices with highest correlation coefficients can be applied in vigilance detection. These quantitative vigilance indicators can provide a new perspective to understand the construction workers' risk perception process and improve the safety management on construction sites.

Correlation between Risk Perception and Decision Making in Coal Mine Based on ERP Testing Technology

Safety production in coal mine is often faced with great pressure. Security risks often lead to severe life and property loss, which greatly influence economic development and social stability. Risk perception is created on the basis of objective risk. Based on the ERP Technology, the paper regards risks in the coal mine as objective risks and tests the risk perception and risk-based decisions of the subjects. The results show that the main effect of the risk levels is significant, and the interaction of the risk level and the electrode point is not significant. High-risk scenario will lead to more negative emotions and greater fluctuations. Under high-risk conditions, the response time of consistent decisions is shorter than that of inconsistent ones. By analyzing the accuracy rate of the reaction, it is found that the accuracy rate in high-risk scenario is higher than that of the low-risk one. Compared with behavioral test, ERP testing is a more sensitive and effective test method in risk perception process.

The influence of risk and uncertainty on teachers’ responses to professional learning and development

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how perceptions of risk influenced teachers’ sensemaking and actions during a professional learning and development (PLD) initiative where teachers were expected to change their practices.Design/methodology/approachA risk perception lens, focussed on uncertainty, was used to capture the on-going experiences of teachers as they participated in PLD. The PLD, delivered by one organisation, focussed on developing teacher use and understanding of formative assessment practices. Data for this three-school qualitative exploratory case study of teachers’ perceptions of risk primarily utilised qualitative interviews.FindingsFindings identified that teachers perceived risk and experienced feelings of vulnerability as a result of their on-going assessment and evaluation of the uncertainty in the professional learning context. The perceived risk informed teachers’ responses and actions, ultimately impacting on teachers’ learning.Practical implicationsThe risk perception process model developed from the findings and conceptual framework provides a tool for educators to navigate and reduce perceived risk and enhance learning in change.Originality/valueThis research advances the conceptualisation of perceived risk in PLD. It challenges the current concept of teachers’ resistance and instead considers the role of their perceptions of risk, broadening the understanding of responses to educational change.

Examining Intuitive Cancer Risk Perceptions in Haitian-Creole and Spanish-Speaking Populations.

There is a developing emphasis on intuition and affect in the illness risk perception process, yet there have been no available strategies to measure these constructs in non-English speakers. This study examined the comprehensibility and acceptability of translations of cancer risk beliefs in Haitian-Creole and Spanish. An established, iterative, team-based translation process was employed. Cognitive interviews (n = 20 in Haitian-Creole speakers; n = 23 in Spanish speakers) were conducted in an inner-city primary care clinic by trained interviewers who were native speakers of each language. Use of an established coding scheme for problematic terms and ambiguous concepts resulted in rewording and dropping items. Most items (90% in the Haitian-Creole version; 87% in the Spanish version) were highly comprehensible. This work will allow for further research examining health outcomes associated with risk perceptions across diverse, non-English language subgroups, paving the way for targeted risk communication with these populations.

Examining intuitive risk perceptions for cancer in diverse populations

In this article, we examine intuitive dimensions of personal cancer risk likelihood, which theory and empirical evidence indicate may be important elements in the risk perception process. We draw on data from a study of risk perceptions in three social groups: university students, men living in the community, and primary care patients living in an urban area. The study took place from 2007 to 2011, in Garden City and New York City, NY and Boston, MA. This study used items developed from categories identified in prior qualitative research specifying emotions and attitudes activated in cancer risk determination to examine perception of cancer risks. Across three samples – university students (N = 568); community men (N = 182); and diverse, urban primary care patients (N = 127) – we conducted exploratory factor and construct analyses. We found that the most reliable two factors within the five-factor solution were cognitive causation, tapping beliefs that risk thoughts may encourage cancer development, and negative affect in risk, assessing negative feelings generated during the risk perception process. For these factors, there were high levels of item endorsement, especially in minority groups, and only modest associations with established cancer risk perception and worry assessments, indicating novel content. These items may prove useful in measuring and comparing intuitive cancer risk perceptions across diverse population subgroups.

高所登山は「死と隣り合わせ」か：高所登山家のリスクの捉えとリスク対処方略を明らかにする

Perception and management of risk by high altitude mountain climbers were investigated by qualitative analysis. Reports of high altitude mountain climbing collected from 3 books and 15 articles from mountaineering magazines were analyzed by the KJ method and transcripts derived from semi-structured interview of 6 distinguished Japanese expert mountain climbers were analyzed by M-GTA. The results indicated the following trends: 1) The desire for more fascinating high altitude mountain climbing routes inevitably leads climbers to face difficult and uncertain situations. 2) Such climbers are highly aware of the uncertainty derived from the high altitude environment and the exertion of climbing. 3) Because they are aware of this uncertainty, their decisions always waver between challenge and safety, and they always attempt to reduce the degree of risk. 4) Such efforts consist of two phases: risk reduction prior to the climb, and on-site avoidance of risk, each being characterized by mental simulation, avoidance of uncontrollable situations, and endeavours to salvage a positive result. 5) After the climb, ambivalent cognition between reflection on their optimism and achievement also emerges. Among all, mental simulation primed by on-site signs of risk, and risk evaluation from the viewpoint of controllability were regarded as keys to staying alive in high risk situations during high altitude mountaineering. Through this risk perception and management process, high altitude climbers possess a contradictory sense of “controllable risk” that enables them to engage in high risk activity. Overall, the characteristics of risk perception and management were similar among the materials obtained from books/magazine articles and interview transcripts. The characteristics of climbers' perception and risk management were rationalized by the characteristics of the natural environment in which they were climbing, and also from the viewpoint of the situated action. The possible application of these findings to risk management in outdoor sports was also discussed.