A risk perception model: simulating public response to news reports in China

作者：Wei Jiuchang^*; Wang Fei; Zhao Dingtao

来源：Information Research-An International Electronic Journal, 2012, 17(2): 519.

Introduction. The media have a great influence on public perception of risk. This study sought to explore how the public perceive crisis information from news reports.
Method. We proposed a mathematical model to describe and investigate public risk perception by simulation analyses.
Analysis. The simulations were carried out using the mathematical software MATLAB, and then compared with public risk perception in three patterns of news reports which were selected from the Website of SINA.com in China.
Results. Our findings showed that the public had different perceptions of what caused the crisis depending on the type of news report. Public risk perceptions developed dynamically and the process can be divided into three general stages: the sensitive period, the rational period and the forgotten period.
Conclusions. These findings have implications for emergency management and highlight the importance of considering public perception of risk when handling emergencies.

• 出版日期2012-6
• 单位中国科学技术大学