Support, opposition, emotion and contentious issue risk perception
International Journal of Public Sector Management
ISSN: 0951-3558
Article publication date: 7 March 2016
Abstract
Purpose
Research on emotion in the context of risk perception has historically focused on negative emotions, and has emphasized the effect of these negative emotions on the perception of risk amongst those who oppose (rather than support) contentious issues. Drawing on theory, the purpose of this paper is to hypothesize that both positive and negative emotions are correlated with risk perceptions regarding contentious public issues and that this occurs amongst supporters and opponents alike.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper explores the relationship between emotions and perceived risk through consideration of the highly contentious case of nuclear energy in Saskatchewan, Canada. The analysis uses data from a representative telephone survey of 1,355 residents.
Findings
The results suggest that positive emotions, like negative emotions, are related to nuclear energy risk perceptions. Emotions are related to risk perception amongst both supporters and opponents.
Research limitations/implications
The data set’s limited number of emotion measures and single public issue focus, combined with the survey’s cross-sectional design, make this research exploratory in nature. Future research should incorporate multiple positive emotions, explore opposition, and support across a range of contentious public issues, and consider experimental models to assess causal relationships.
Practical implications
The paper offers insights into how public sector managers must be cognizant of the emotional underpinnings of risk perceptions amongst both supporters and opponents of contentious public issues.
Originality/value
This paper builds on and expands previous work by considering both positive and negative emotions and both supporters and opponents of contentious issues.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the Sylvia Fedoruk Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation. The telephone survey was completed under the expert direction of the Survey and Group Analysis Laboratory at the Social Sciences Research Laboratory (SSRL), University of Saskatchewan. Jana Fried, at the time this research was completed, was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Saskatchewan.
Citation
Bourassa, M., Doraty, K., Berdahl, L., Fried, J. and Bell, S. (2016), "Support, opposition, emotion and contentious issue risk perception", International Journal of Public Sector Management, Vol. 29 No. 2, pp. 201-216. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM-10-2015-0172
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited