Comparing the standard rating scale and the magnifier scale for assessing risk perceptions

Area of Science:

• Health communication
• Risk perception research
• Psychological measurement

Background:

• A novel risk perception rating scale, the "magnifier scale," was developed to mitigate heightened perceptions of low-probability health events.
• The performance of this magnifier scale, particularly in comparison to a standard rating scale (SRS), requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the magnifier scale in reducing risk perceptions for low-probability health events.
• To determine if the magnifier scale's effect differs for low-probability versus high-probability events compared to the SRS.

Main Methods:

• Three studies (totaling 790 participants, including undergraduates and hypertension patients) were conducted using a randomized design.
• Participants assessed risk perceptions of various health events using either the magnifier scale or the SRS, with or without numerical risk information.
• Study 3 specifically focused on self-relevant high-probability events (heart attack, stroke) in a patient population.

Main Results:

• In the absence of numerical risk information, the magnifier scale significantly lowered risk perceptions for both high- and low-probability events compared to the SRS (Study 1).
• When numerical risk information was provided, scale differences diminished (Study 1).
• The magnifier scale significantly reduced risk perceptions for high-probability events in Studies 2 and 3.

Conclusions:

• The magnifier scale effectively lowers risk perceptions, but this effect extends to both low- and high-probability events.
• Findings suggest the magnifier scale may not be suitable for assessing risk perceptions of high-probability health events.
• Further research is needed to refine risk communication tools for different probability levels.