Study 1.2

In this study we recorded elements of causal scenarios that a persons constructs about various environmental risks. The question was which causes, consequences and remedies are known for each of the risks and whether it is possible to deduce structural characteristics of causal scenarios from this. The elements of causal scenarios will also be used as stimuli in the third study. Apart from that, we investigated the connection between causal scenarios and risk evaluation.

Method

N=30 subjects were presented with fourteen environmental risks (global warming, ozone depletion, air pollution etc.). We asked about causes, consequences and remedies for each risk using open answer formats. In addition to this, subjects rated the extent of the risk each environmental change brings about in general on a scale.

Results

The open answers were categorized with regard to their content. The causes, for example, were distinguished according to whether they refer to attitudes or activities of humans or to environmental changes. The consequences were split up into those for the environment and those for humans. By doing that we identified typical causal scenarios. Short-term and direct causal connections were named most often, i. e. causes and consequences that directly precede resp. follow risks. Mediated causes that go back further are rarely taken into account. Furthermore, risks are considered less serious when they are caused by environmental conditions such as acid rain; they are considered more serious when human activities such as deforesting are regarded as causes. This corresponds to the results of other risk realms, according to which risks are more serious when they are attributed to humans.