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Anne Katrin Schlag
Posterpräsentation auf der ersten Konferenz des „Netzwerks TA“: „Technik in einer fragilen Welt. Die Rolle der Technikfolgenabschätzung“, 24. - 26. November 2004, Berlin
Utilizing an extended mental model approach to risk communication (Granger Morgan et al, 2002) complemented by social representations theory (Farr and Moscovici, 1984) the present thesis investigates expert and lay risk perceptions of GM food in the UK.
10 in-depth elite interviews with scientific experts of agricultural biotechnology were conducted, followed by 5 focus groups with members of the lay public.
Data were first explored with ALCESTE, a correspondence analytical tool, developed by Reinert (1998). Both expert and lay analyses yielded four correspondence clusters, showing clear divergences in GM food risk perceptions. For example, experts problematized the public understanding of science, but separated this from scientific risk. Lay participants on the other hand did not observe scientific risk in isolation and perceived the related interplay of science, politics and industry as worrying. So while the scientific risk per se is not the main focus of concern for lay participants, thinking about GM food seemingly evokes a range of negative associations.
Prominent lay associations with GM food risk concern representations of nature and 'what world do we want to live in'. In order to investigate these value-related associations in depth, data was triangulated using Atlas ti software (Muhr, 1991). As indicated by Sjoeberg (2000), it was found that the construct 'messing with nature' was of particular importance for lay participants, yet neglected by the experts.
Accordingly, utilising a free association task, further research will investigate the dynamics, structures and functions of this concept, i.e. what do participants really mean when they judge GM to be 'messing with nature'?
Findings to date will be presented. It is argued that for the effective development of technological risk communication strategies public perceptions need to be not only acknowledged but also incorporated in subsequent decision making.
| Name: | Anne Katrin Schlag |
| Supervisor: | Professor George Gaskell |
| Department: | PhD Social Psychology |
| London School of Economics (UK) | |
| E-Mail: | a.k.schlag@lse.ac.uk |
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