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Communicating risk in disaster risk management systems – experimental evidence of the perceived usefulness of risk descriptions

Lin, Lexin LU ; RIVERA ESCORCIA, CLAUDIA LU ; Abrahamsson, Marcus LU and Tehler, Henrik LU (2017) In Journal of Risk Research 20(12). p.1534-1553
Abstract

Disaster risk management (DRM) requires the collaboration of a variety of stakeholders working in different sectors. They depend on each other to share risk information, and effective collaboration requires efficient communication. Clearly, the communication of risk descriptions is a key issue for the success of DRM activities. This study investigated the communication of risk-related information between DRM actors, and how to present such information in order to improve its usefulness as a basis for decision-making. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the issue. The first related to the type of hazard, while the second examined the presentation of likelihood and consequences. We addressed two research questions: Does the... (More)

Disaster risk management (DRM) requires the collaboration of a variety of stakeholders working in different sectors. They depend on each other to share risk information, and effective collaboration requires efficient communication. Clearly, the communication of risk descriptions is a key issue for the success of DRM activities. This study investigated the communication of risk-related information between DRM actors, and how to present such information in order to improve its usefulness as a basis for decision-making. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the issue. The first related to the type of hazard, while the second examined the presentation of likelihood and consequences. We addressed two research questions: Does the presentation of a risk description influence its perceived usefulness for decision-making in a DRM system? If so, which format is perceived as most useful? Our findings indicated that the type of hazard did not affect perceived usefulness to any significant extent. However, the presentation of likelihood and consequences did have a significant effect. These results indicate that the presentation of risk information greatly influences stakeholders’ ability to make well-informed decisions. Specifically, quantitative scale and semi-quantitative ranking scale formats are perceived as most useful.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
decision-making, disaster risk management (DRM), perceived usefulness, risk communication, risk description
in
Journal of Risk Research
volume
20
issue
12
pages
1534 - 1553
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • wos:000417174600003
  • scopus:84965082756
ISSN
1366-9877
DOI
10.1080/13669877.2016.1179212
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b39b7c9f-4a6d-4d60-8c71-478e9baecdd1
date added to LUP
2016-09-28 13:24:23
date last changed
2025-01-12 12:17:23
@article{b39b7c9f-4a6d-4d60-8c71-478e9baecdd1,
  abstract     = {{<p>Disaster risk management (DRM) requires the collaboration of a variety of stakeholders working in different sectors. They depend on each other to share risk information, and effective collaboration requires efficient communication. Clearly, the communication of risk descriptions is a key issue for the success of DRM activities. This study investigated the communication of risk-related information between DRM actors, and how to present such information in order to improve its usefulness as a basis for decision-making. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the issue. The first related to the type of hazard, while the second examined the presentation of likelihood and consequences. We addressed two research questions: Does the presentation of a risk description influence its perceived usefulness for decision-making in a DRM system? If so, which format is perceived as most useful? Our findings indicated that the type of hazard did not affect perceived usefulness to any significant extent. However, the presentation of likelihood and consequences did have a significant effect. These results indicate that the presentation of risk information greatly influences stakeholders’ ability to make well-informed decisions. Specifically, quantitative scale and semi-quantitative ranking scale formats are perceived as most useful.</p>}},
  author       = {{Lin, Lexin and RIVERA ESCORCIA, CLAUDIA and Abrahamsson, Marcus and Tehler, Henrik}},
  issn         = {{1366-9877}},
  keywords     = {{decision-making; disaster risk management (DRM); perceived usefulness; risk communication; risk description}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  number       = {{12}},
  pages        = {{1534--1553}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{Journal of Risk Research}},
  title        = {{Communicating risk in disaster risk management systems – experimental evidence of the perceived usefulness of risk descriptions}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13669877.2016.1179212}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/13669877.2016.1179212}},
  volume       = {{20}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}