Question

What are several differences between public risk perception and scientific risk assessment?

Short answer

Public risk perception is subjective and based on personal experiences and emotions, while scientific risk assessment is objective and based on empirical data and research. Additionally, risk perceptions can vary greatly among individuals, whereas scientific assessments follow a consistent, structured activity.

Step-by-step solution

Define Public Risk Perception

Firstly, define what public risk perception is. This refers to the judgement that the general public makes concerning the severity or likelihood of risks. It's influenced by factors such as social, cultural, personal values, and can often be based on emotions and personal experiences rather than concrete facts.

Define Scientific Risk Assessment

Next, explain scientific risk assessment. This is a systematic, evidence-based process that aims to identify and evaluate the hazards in a structured and objective way. It's based on empirical data, statistics, and research, and more oriented towards quantitative measurements.

Highlight Differences

Lastly, highlight the main differences between the two. Some key differences may include the basis of judgments (emotions and personal values vs. concrete data), method of evaluation (subjective vs. objective), and level of systematic approach (unstructured and varying greatly among individuals vs. structured and consistent).