Risk Literacy and Risk Perception Among Undergraduates in Mainland China: The Case of BSE |
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| Authors: | Hongxian Ma Guofang Zhai Shoji Tsuchida |
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| Institution: | 1. Laboratory for Urban Disasters and Public Security, Department of Urban Planning &2. Design, Nanjing University , Nanjing , China;3. Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology , Huaian , China;4. Design, Nanjing University , Nanjing , China;5. Faculty of Safety Science, Kansai University , Takatsuki-shi , Osaka , Japan |
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| Abstract: | Risk response and cognitive characteristics of different groups are important aspects in risk research. In this article we discuss the general features of risk literacy and perception among undergraduates at Nanjing University and Huaiyin Institute of Technology in China in the case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The results show that: (1) there seem to be no relationships between respondents’ knowledge about BSE and their risk identification; (2) between all contrast samples, the greatest divergence appears in the judgment about probability of risk while the smallest one is the trust in science and technology to avoid BSE; (3) the judgment of hazard probability would be related to gender, family location, and the backgrounds of college and academic specialty. And only gender has impact on the affirmation of hazard with a significant level of 0.05. These findings provide insights into the comprehension of undergraduates’ risk literacy and perception, and can contribute to the improvement of risk communication and management in China. |
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| Keywords: | risk literacy risk perception risk management undergraduate student China BSE American beef |
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