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Risk Analysis

We carry out studies which examine risk perception and decision-making under risk using a variety of techniques including experiments and questionnaires. We also have research interests in attitudes towards risk-related issues such as GM food and blood substitutes, and have carried out studies examining implicit and explicit attitudes towards such issues. Much of our work in this area aims to develop and test psychological theories in applied settings. Listed below are some of the key questions addressed by research staff in this area.

1. What psychological factors influence the perceived risks from, and acceptance of, genetically modified products and treatments?

Ferguson , E., Prowse, C. Townsend, E., Spence, A., van Hilten J. A., Lowe, K. (In press). Acceptability of blood substitutes. Journal of Internal Medicine.

Fleming, P., Townsend, E, Lowe, K.C. and Ferguson, E. (In press) Social desirability influences on judgements of biotechnology across the dimensions of risk, ethicality and naturalness. Journal of Risk Research.

Fleming, P., Ferguson, E., Townsend, E. and Lowe, K.C. (In Press). Stakeholder perceptions in transfusion medicine: a pilot field study on risk and ethics for blood and blood substitutes. Artificial Cells, Blood Substitutes and Biotechnology.

Spence, A. and Townsend, E. (2007). Predicting behaviour towards Genetically Modified (GM) food using implicit and explicit attitudes. British Journal of Social Psychology 46, (2), 437-457.

Spence, A. & Townsend, E. (2006). Examining consumer behaviour towards genetically modified (GM) food in Britain. Risk Analysis, 26, (3), 657-670


Spence, A. and Townsend, E. (2006). Implicit attitudes towards genetically modified (GM) foods: A comparison of context-free and context-dependent evaluations. Appetite, 46, 67-74

Ferguson , E., Leaviss, J., Townsend, E., Fleming, P., & Lowe, K.C. (2005) Perceived safety of donor blood and blood substitutes: the role of informational frame, patient groups and stress appraisals. Transfusion Medicine, 15, 401-412

Campbell, S. and Townsend, E. (2005). How To Make A Minority Look Like A Majority, Australasian Science, March, 28-29.

Townsend, E. and Campbell, S. (2004). Psychological determinants of willingness to taste and purchase genetically modified food. Risk Analysis, 24, 1385-1393.

Townsend, E., Clarke, D.D. & Travis, B. (2004). Effects of context and feelings on perceptions of genetically modified food. Risk Analysis, 24, 1369-1384.

Ferguson , E., Farrell, K., James, V., & Lowe, K. C. (2004). Trustworthiness of information about blood donation and transfusion in relation to associated knowledge and perceptions of risk: An analysis of UK stakeholder groups. Transfusion Medicine, 14, 205-216

Campbell , S. and Townsend, E. (2003) Flaws undermine results of UK biotech debate. Nature 425 p 559.

Farrell, K., Ferguson, E., James, V., & Lowe, KC. (2002). Public perception of the risk of HIV infection associated with blood donation: the role of contextual cues. Transfusion, 42, 679-683.

Ferguson , E., Farrell, K., Lowe, K., & James, V. (2001). Current perceived risks of blood transfusion: The roles of stakeholder knowledge and perceptions. Transfusion Medicine, 11, 129-135.

2. Do emotions influence risk perception and decision making?

Spence, A. and Townsend, E. (In press). Spontaneous Evaluations: Similarities and Differences between the Affect Heuristic and Implicit Attitudes. Cognition and Emotion.

Townsend, E. (2006). Affective influences on risk perceptions of, and attitudes toward, genetically modified food. Journal of Risk Research, 9 (2), 125-139.

Townsend, E., Clarke, D.D. & Travis, B. (2004). Effects of context and feelings on perceptions of genetically modified food. Risk Analysis, 24, 1369-1384.

Townsend, E. and Campbell, S. (2004). Psychological determinants of willingness to taste and purchase genetically modified food. Risk Analysis, 24, 1385-1393.

3. What influences people to take up medical screening?



Farrell. K., Ferguson, E., James, V., & Lowe, K. (2001). Confidence in the safety of blood for transfusion: The effect of message framing. Transfusion, 41, 1335-1340.

O'Connor DB., Ferguson, E., & O'Connor RC. (2005) Intentions to use hormonal male contraception: The role of message framing. British Journal of Psychology, 96(3), 351-370  

 

 




Content: Angela Gillett
HTML: Lee Melton


School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
Tel: +44 [0]115-951-5361, Fax: +44 [0]115-951-5324