Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Differences in expert and lay judgements of risk: myth or reality?

Rowe, G.; Wright, G.

Authors

G. Rowe

G. Wright



Abstract

This article evaluates the nine empirical studies that have been conducted on expert versus lay judgments of risk. Contrary to received wisdom, this study finds that there is little empirical evidence for the propositions (1) that experts judge risk differently from members of the public or (2) that experts are more veridical in their risk assessments. Methodological weaknesses in the early research are documented, and it is shown that the results of more recent studies are confounded by social and demographic factors that have been found to correlate with judgments of risk. Using a task-analysis taxonomy, a template is provided for the documentation of future studies of expert–lay differences/similarities that will facilitate analytic comparison.

Citation

Rowe, G., & Wright, G. (2001). Differences in expert and lay judgements of risk: myth or reality?. Risk Analysis, 21(2), 341-356. https://doi.org/10.1111/0272-4332.212116

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date 2001-04
Deposit Date Mar 19, 2007
Journal Risk Analysis
Print ISSN 0272-4332
Electronic ISSN 1539-6924
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 21
Issue 2
Pages 341-356
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/0272-4332.212116
Keywords Risk perception, Risk judgement, Expert-lay differences.

You might also like



Downloadable Citations