Risk perception: sociological conceptualization and methodological approaches to public opinion research

Abstract

The article presents methodological assumptions of the empirical research of risk perception. This methodology is based upon social theories of risk, and attention is focused on the perception of environmental and technological risks. The sociological conceptualization of risk perception emphasizes subjective and intuitive evaluations that influence the acceptability or rejection of various technologies.
The article presents and discusses the main dimensions of risk perception in various social theories, namely micro vs. macro, individualism vs. structuralism and objectivism vs. constructivism. The methodological model of risk perception research is structured according to the objective and subjective factors influencing risk perception in society. The contextual questions addressing special issues characteristic of certain cultures or countries are an important part of risk perception methodology. The article also presents the structure of questionnaire indicators, aiming at revealing risk perception in the fields of climate change, nuclear energy and genetically modified organisms.