Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 18, 2025
13:04
Measuring the Subjective Value of Risky and Ambiguous Options using Experimental Economics and Functional MRI Methods
Published on: September 19, 2012
12.3K
A Yardstick for Danger: Developing a Flexible and Sensitive Measure of Risk Perception
Hugh D Walpole1, Robyn S Wilson1
1School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Summary
This study developed reliable scales to measure risk perception, a key factor in hazard response. The new scales assess exposure, susceptibility, severity, and affective response for better risk assessment across populations.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Psychology
- Decision Science
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Risk perception is crucial for understanding hazard response, yet measurement lacks consensus.
- A conceptual model identifies four key dimensions: exposure, susceptibility, severity, and affective response.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate reliable, brief subscales for measuring the four dimensions of risk perception.
- To provide empirically supported tools for assessing perceived risk in diverse contexts.
Main Methods:
- Extensive scale development process utilizing cognitive interviewing.
- Quantitative psychometric analyses including exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis.
- Item-response theory analyses to refine item selection.
Main Results:
- Developed empirically supported 3-4 item subscales for each of the four risk perception dimensions.
- Reduced a large item pool to high-quality measures through rigorous psychometric testing.
Conclusions:
- The validated subscales offer a standardized method for measuring risk perception.
- These tools facilitate cross-contextual and cross-population comparisons of perceived risk.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
265
Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
265
01:12Relative Risk
1.2K
Relative risk (RR) is a statistical measure commonly used in epidemiology to compare the likelihood of a particular event occurring between two groups. This metric is important for evaluating the relationship between exposure to a specific risk factor and the probability of a particular outcome. It plays a crucial role in medical research, public health studies, and risk assessment. Relative risk quantifies how much more (or less) likely an event is to occur in an exposed group compared to an...
1.2K
01:22Self-Report Tests of Personality
569
Self-report inventories are objective personality assessments that use multiple-choice items or numbered scales, typically ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). They are often called Likert scales after Rensis Likert. These inventories are widely used due to their ease of administration and cost-effectiveness. One of the most prominent examples is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), initially developed in the 1940s to assess abnormal personality traits.
569
01:20Lazarus's Cognitive Appraisal Theory
1.0K
Cognitive psychologist Richard Lazarus proposed the cognitive-mediational theory of emotions, which emphasizes how individuals' assessments of stressors significantly affect their experience of stress. According to Lazarus, the stress response is determined by a two-step appraisal process: primary appraisal and secondary appraisal. These cognitive appraisals help individuals evaluate the potential impact of a stressor and determine the adequacy of their coping resources.
Primary Appraisal:...
Primary Appraisal:...
1.0K
01:09Odds Ratio
979
The odds ratio (OR) is a statistical measure used extensively in epidemiology and research to quantify the strength of association between exposure and outcome across different groups. Unlike relative risk, which compares the probabilities of an event occurring, the odds ratio compares the odds of an event occurring in the exposed group to the odds of it occurring in the unexposed group. The odds, in this context, are calculated as the probability of the event happening divided by the...
979
01:24Strategies of Self-Presentation III: Self-Monitoring
84
Self-monitoring is a central construct in understanding individual differences in self-presentation strategies across social contexts. It refers to how individuals observe, regulate, and control their expressive behavior and self-presentation following situational cues. Self-monitoring reflects a person's sensitivity to social appropriateness and willingness to adapt behavior to fit varying interpersonal demands.High vs. Low Self-Monitoring IndividualsIndividuals high in self-monitoring are...
84