Social identities and risk: expert and lay imaginations on pesticide use

Abstract

Expert-based environmental and health risk regulation is widely believed to suffer from a lack of public understanding and legitimacy. On controversial issues such as genetically modified organisms and food-related chemicals, a “lay—expert discrepancy” in the assessment of risks is clearly visible. In this article, we analyze the relationship between scientific experts and ordinary lay citizens in the context of risks from pesticide usage in Denmark. Drawing on concepts from the “sociology of scientific knowledge” (SSK), we contend that differences in risk perception must be understood at the level of social identities. On the basis of qualitative interviews with citizens and experts, respectively, we focus on the multiple ways in which identities come to be employed in actors' risk accounts. Empirically, we identify salient characteristics of “typical” imagined experts and lay-people, while arguing that these conceptions vary identifiably in-between four groups of citizens and experts. On the basis of our findings, some implications for bridging the lay—expert discrepancy on risk issues are sketched out

Between Vision and Reality: A Study of Scientists’ Views on Citizen Science

“…A number of studies have shown (Blok et al 2008;Pearson et al 1997) that following interactions with the public, scientists have more positive perceptions of the public and are more confident in forming relationships and engaging with the public over time. In addition, Poliakoff and Webb (2007) found that scientists who have previous engagement experiences are more likely to have future intentions to participate in public engagement activities.…”

Factors influencing societal response of nanotechnology: an expert stakeholder analysis

“…Although expert view on societal response to new technologies may not align with actual societal attitudes, (Barke and Jenkins-Smith 1993; Blok et al 2008; Flynn et al 1993; Kraus et al 1992; Sjöberg 1999; Webster et al 2010), those expert views on societal responses, are likely to influence technology implementation and commercialisation. Identifying expert priorities and preferences at an early stage of technological development can be used to identify how such views have influence on the commercialisation trajectory in the future.…”

Imagined publics and engagement around renewable energy technologies in the UK

“…First, we note that both Davies (2008a) andBlok (2008) raise the issue as to whether we are dealing with imagined publics or experienced publics. The nature of the imagined public for those that do have experience may differ from the imagined public of those that do not so trying to distinguish between them is certainly a valid enterprise.…”