Understanding risk : informing decisions in a democratic society / Paul C. Stern and Harvey V. Fineberg, editors.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Stern, Paul C., 1944-

Fineberg, Harvey V.

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Risk Characterization.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Risk assessment.

Policy sciences.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xii, 249 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, 1996.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Understanding Risk addresses a central dilemma of risk decisionmaking in a democracy: detailed scientific and technical information is essential for making decisions, but the people who make and live with those decisions are not scientists. The key task of risk characterization is to provide needed and appropriate information to decisionmakers and the public. This important new volume illustrates that making risks understandable to the public involves much more than translating scientific knowledge. The volume also draws conclusions about what society should expect from risk characterization and offers clear guidelines and principles for informing the wide variety of risk decisions that face our increasingly technological society. Understanding Risk Frames fundamental questions about what risk characterization means. Reviews traditional definitions and explores new conceptual and practical approaches. Explores how risk characterization should inform decisionmakers and the public. Looks at risk characterization in the context of the entire decisionmaking process. Understanding Risk discusses how risk characterization has fallen short in many recent controversial decisions. Throughout the text, examples and case studies--such as planning for the long-term ecological health of the Everglades or deciding on the operation of a waste incinerator--bring key concepts to life. Understanding Risk will be important to anyone involved in risk issues: federal, state, and local policymakers and regulators; risk managers; scientists; industrialists; researchers; and concerned individuals.

Contents:

Understanding Risk

Copyright

Acknowledgments

Contents

Preface

Summary

1 The Idea of Risk Characterization

BEYOND TRANSLATION

A Decision-Driven Activity

Recognizing All Significant Concerns

An Analytic-Deliberative Process

Matching the Process to the Decision

PARTICIPATION AND KNOWLEDGE IN RISK DECISIONS

Rationales for Participation

Role of Science

AN EXPANDED FRAMEWORK

A New Definition and Its Implications

The Risk Assessment-Risk Management Distinction

Structure of the Book

2 Judgment in the Risk Decision Process

PROBLEM FORMULATION

The Concept of Risk

Missing Considerations

Fairness

Prevention

Rights

SELECTION OF OPTIONS AND OUTCOMES

Ecological Effects

Economic and Social Effects

Effects on Future Generations

Ripple Effects

Effects on Democracy, Governance, and Ethical Beliefs

Conclusion

INFORMATION GATHERING AND INTERPRETATION

Choosing a Risk Measure

Making Simplifying Assumptions

SYNTHESIS

Summarization

The Multidimensional Nature of Risk

The Meaning of Risk Estimates

Uncertainty

Specific Populations

Multiple Exposures

Communication

CONCLUSION: THE IMPORTANCE OF PROCESS DESIGN

3 Deliberation

ROLE OF DELIBERATION

PURPOSES OF BROADLY BASED DELIBERATION

LIMITATIONS AND CHALLENGES

Limitations

Challenges

STANDARDS AND GOALS FOR DELIBERATION

Involve the Interested and Affected Parties

Who Are the Interested and Affected Parties?

Is Direct Participation Needed?

Selecting Participants

Timing Participation

Listening to the Participants

Explicitly Address External Constraints

Strive for Fairness in the Process

Plan for Flexibility and Iteration

Recognize the Roles of the Responsible Organization

Use Appropriate Methods

4 Analysis.

PURPOSES AND CHALLENGES OF ANALYSIS

STANDARDS FOR GOOD ANALYSIS

ANALYSIS TO REDUCE THE COMPLEXITY OF RISK

THE ANALYSIS OF UNCERTAINTY

Uncertainties that Matter

Purposes

Limits

Social Context

Summary and Implications

CONCLUSIONS

5 Integrating Analysis and Deliberation

PROCESS DESIGN

INFORMATION GATHERING AND INTERPETATION

SYNTHESIS OF INFORMATION

ACHIEVING CLOSURE

CONCLUSION

6 Implementing the New Approach

PRACTICALITY

DIAGNOSIS: MATCHING THE PROCESS TO THE DECISION

The Risk Decision Landscape

Unique and Wide-Impact Decisions

Routine and Narrow-Impact Decisions

Repeated, Wide-Impact Decisions

Generic Hazard and Dose-Response Characterizations

Decisions about Policies for Risk Analysis

Diagnostic Steps and Questions

1. Diagnose the Kind of Risk and the State of Knowledge

2. Describe the Legal Mandate

3. Describe the Purpose of the Risk Decision

4. Describe the Affected Parties and Likely Public Reactions

5. Estimate Resource Needs and Timetable

6. Plan for Organizational Needs

7. Develop a Preliminary Process Design

8. Summarize and Discuss Diagnosis within the Organization

BUILDING ORGANIZATIONAL CAPABILITY

Organizational Issues

Improving the Knowledge Base

7 Principles for Risk Characterization

Appendix A Six Cases in Risk Analysis and Characterization

APPLICATION OF ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

APPLICATION TO SOUTH FLORIDA

Implications of the Case Study

APPROVAL OF THE WASTE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. INCINERATOR AT EAST LIVERPOOL, OHIO

REGULATORY NEGOTIATION FOR A DISINFECTANT BY-PRODUCTS RULE

Forming the Negotiating Committee and Technical Support

Defining the Problem and Informational Needs.

Integrating Deliberation and Analysis

A Creative Solution to Handling Uncertainty

Conclusions

SITING A POWER PLANT WITH THE AID OF DECISION ANALYSIS TOOLS

Multiattribute Utility Analysis

The Decision Process

Additional Features of the Case

THE CALIFORNIA COMPARATIVE RISK PROJECT

PLANNING FUTURE LAND USES AT HANFORD, WASHINGTON

Appendix B Common Approaches to Deliberation and Public Participation

PUBLIC HEARINGS

CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

CITIZENS' JURIES AND CITIZENS' PANELS

SURVEYS

FOCUS GROUPS

INTERACTIVE TECHNOLOGY-BASED APPROACHES

COMBINATIONS OF DELIBERATIVE METHODS

Appendix C Biographical Sketches

Glossary

References

Index.

Notes:

"Committee on Risk Characterization, Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, National Research Council."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 217-240) and index.

ISBN:

9786610210824

9780309133241

0309133246

9781280210822

1280210826

9780309578493

0309578493

9780585002422

0585002428

OCLC:

814277413