Academic discipline and risk perception of technologies: An empirical study
Publikation: Beiträge in Zeitschriften › Zeitschriftenaufsätze › Forschung › begutachtet
Standard
Academic discipline and risk perception of technologies : An empirical study. / Weisenfeld, Ursula; Ott, Ingrid.
in: Research Policy, Jahrgang 40, Nr. 3, 04.2011, S. 487-499.Publikation: Beiträge in Zeitschriften › Zeitschriftenaufsätze › Forschung › begutachtet
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Bibtex
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - Academic discipline and risk perception of technologies
T2 - An empirical study
AU - Weisenfeld, Ursula
AU - Ott, Ingrid
PY - 2011/4
Y1 - 2011/4
N2 - This article brings together two areas of research: studies on risk perception of technologies and studies on vocational/career choice. This is an important link since decisions concerning technologies are influenced by decision makers' risk perceptions and these in turn may be related to educational and career paths. We analyze students of different academic disciplines with regard to their risk perception of four technologies. The aim is to find out whether there is a relationship between area of study (as a precursor of vocational and career choice) and risk perception of technologies regarding health, environment and society. The four technologies under study are renewable energies, genetic engineering, nanotechnology and information and communication technologies (ICT). Key results are: irrespective of academic discipline risk of genetic engineering on average is rated highest and renewable energies lowest. This holds for all the risks studied (environmental, health, societal risks). On average, students from different academic disciplines differ in their risk perception. Factor analyses show that common dimensions of risk are the technologies and not the kind of risk. Regression analyses show that the variables influencing perceived risks vary between the technological fields.
AB - This article brings together two areas of research: studies on risk perception of technologies and studies on vocational/career choice. This is an important link since decisions concerning technologies are influenced by decision makers' risk perceptions and these in turn may be related to educational and career paths. We analyze students of different academic disciplines with regard to their risk perception of four technologies. The aim is to find out whether there is a relationship between area of study (as a precursor of vocational and career choice) and risk perception of technologies regarding health, environment and society. The four technologies under study are renewable energies, genetic engineering, nanotechnology and information and communication technologies (ICT). Key results are: irrespective of academic discipline risk of genetic engineering on average is rated highest and renewable energies lowest. This holds for all the risks studied (environmental, health, societal risks). On average, students from different academic disciplines differ in their risk perception. Factor analyses show that common dimensions of risk are the technologies and not the kind of risk. Regression analyses show that the variables influencing perceived risks vary between the technological fields.
KW - Management studies
KW - Technologies
KW - Risk perception
KW - Career choice
KW - Academic disciplines
KW - Self-selection
KW - Socialization
KW - Academic disciplines
KW - Career choice
KW - Risk perception
KW - Self-selection
KW - Socialization
KW - Technologies
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79951942301&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/a6f0eeb4-0b83-32bb-a744-dc31df62a6f3/
U2 - 10.1016/j.respol.2010.12.003
DO - 10.1016/j.respol.2010.12.003
M3 - Journal articles
VL - 40
SP - 487
EP - 499
JO - Research Policy
JF - Research Policy
SN - 0048-7333
IS - 3
ER -