Key Insight
Funded by the National Science Foundation, Project members conducted an 1800-person national survey that found that cultural worldviews better predicted perceptions of various risks than did any other individual characteristic. The National Culture and Risk Survey investigated the existence of cultural cognition on a large scale and for a wide array of different risks. The ... Read more
Funded by the National Science Foundation, Project members conducted an 1800-person national survey that found that cultural worldviews better predicted perceptions of various risks than did any other individual characteristic.
The National Culture and Risk Survey investigated the existence of cultural cognition on a large scale and for a wide array of different risks. The sample consisted of 1800 persons contacted (by random digit dial) to participate in 25-30 minute interview. The subjects’ cultural worldviews were measured with scales (developed after an extensive process of focus group discussions and pretesting) that reflect two distinct dimensions of social organization: “hierarchy-egalitarianism,” and “individualism-solidarism.” Results of the study confirmed that these two dimensions more strongly predicted individuals perceptions of various risks than any other individual characteristic, including their gender, their race, their income, their education level, their personality type, and their political affiliations.
More specific findings included:
Various papers discussing these results are now either scheduled for publication or are under publication review. Project members are also conducting follow-up experimental and ethnographic studies aimed at corroborating and extending the Survey findings.
Related: Second National Risk & Culture Study