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Public Perceptions of the Potential Hazards Associated with Food Production and Food Consumption: An Empirical Study

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  • Paul Sparks
  • Richard Shepherd

Abstract

Although public perceptions of food‐related hazards receive much media comment and debate, the research literature on such perceptions is sparse and piecemeal. In the reported study, 216 people completed a questionnaire relating to their perceptions of the “risk characteristics” of potential hazards associated with various aspects of food production and food consumption. Responses were examined via principal‐components analysis to obtain a structural representation of risk perception of the kind provided by Fischhoff, Slovic, and their colleagues in their seminal psychometric work.(1,2) A three‐component solution accounting for 87% of the variance was obtained, with the dimensions labeled as “severity,”“unknown,” and “number of people exposed.” The findings also yielded information pointing to evidence of the phenomenon of unrealistic optimism. We conclude that our findings offer a useful base upon which further in‐depth research integrating different perspectives on risk perception with respect to food‐related hazards may be developed.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Sparks & Richard Shepherd, 1994. "Public Perceptions of the Potential Hazards Associated with Food Production and Food Consumption: An Empirical Study," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(5), pages 799-806, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:riskan:v:14:y:1994:i:5:p:799-806
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6924.1994.tb00291.x
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    1. Curley, Shawn P. & Yates, J. Frank & Abrams, Richard A., 1986. "Psychological sources of ambiguity avoidance," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 230-256, October.
    2. Daniel Ellsberg, 1961. "Risk, Ambiguity, and the Savage Axioms," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 75(4), pages 643-669.
    3. Arabie, Phipps & Maschmeyer, Carman, 1988. "Some current models for the perception and judgment of risk," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 41(3), pages 300-329, June.
    4. Einhorn, Hillel J & Hogarth, Robin M, 1986. "Decision Making under Ambiguity," The Journal of Business, University of Chicago Press, vol. 59(4), pages 225-250, October.
    5. Nancy Nighswonger Kraus & Paul Slovic, 1988. "Taxonomic Analysis of Perceived Risk: Modeling Individual and Group Perceptions Within Homogeneous Hazard Domains," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 8(3), pages 435-455, September.
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