Expert risk communication from an organisational context view

• During recent years new threats have accentuated the role of scientific experts for creating risk awareness, understanding, and advice for action or preparedness for informed risk decisions. Scientific experts are expected to engage in risk communication with stakeholders at various levels, not least the general public. Scientific experts exist in organizations where forms and goals may vary, as well as in various industries. One such expert is the radiation protection expert, who exist in several organizational contexts. Responsibilities and requirements on communication are linked to the profession and a general supporting guideline on risk communication was in 2020 launched bythe International Radiation Protection Agency. However, less focus is on the organizational context such as how organizational conditions create opportunities and obstacles for the expert’s risk communication. The aim of this study was to analyze opportunities and limitations in organizational contexts and the significance they have on the experts’ communication on radiation risks. We study how the radiation protection expert understand their responsibility to communicate, how the expert is involved in communication, and how communication is shaped by the organizational context. The qualitative study focuses on radiation protection experts in three cases or contexts having different goals: an authority, a university hospital, and a European research infrastructure consortium. Communicative logics in the organizations was studied through text analyses of home pages and documents. In-depth interviews with radiation protection experts was conducted to learn about theircommunication strategies, practices, and experiences. The study show that high demands are put on the radiation protection expert to engage in communication with the public despite an often existing lack of training in communication. The experts have an implicit understanding of communication and their strategies are experience-based and context dependent. The study shows that communicative logics within the expert’s organization create some possibilities but also hindrances for the expert to communicate risk. Two such logics, the media and a promotional logic entails that certain stakeholders, channels and type of communication is prioritized. In both cases, experts are involved to a low extent and other aspects than risks are highlighted.

• During recent years new threats have accentuated the role of scientific experts for creating risk awareness, understanding, and advice for action or preparedness for informed risk decisions. Scientific experts are expected to engage in risk communication with stakeholders at various levels, not least the general public. Scientific experts exist in organizations where forms and goals may vary, as well as in various industries. One such expert is the radiation protection expert, who exist in several organizational contexts. Responsibilities and requirements on communication are linked to the profession and a general supporting guideline on risk communication was in 2020 launched by the International Radiation Protection Agency. However, less focus is on the organizational context such as how organizational conditions create opportunities and obstacles for the expert’s risk communication. The aim of this study was to analyze opportunities and limitations in organizational contexts and the significance they have on the experts’ communication on radiation risks. We study how the radiation protection expert understand their responsibility to communicate, how the expert is involved in communication, and how communication is shaped by the organizational context. This qualitative study focuses on radiation protection experts in three cases or contexts having different goals: an authority, a university hospital, and a European research infrastructure consortium. Communicative logics in/of the organizations was studied through text analyses of home pages and documents. In-depth interviews with radiation protection experts was conducted to learn about their communication strategies, practices, and experiences. The study show that high demands are put on the radiation protection expert to engage in communication with the public despite an often existing lack of training in communication. The experts have an implicit understanding of communication and their strategies are experience-based and context dependent. The study shows that communicative logics within the expert’s organization create some possibilities but also hindrances for the expert to communicate risk. Two such logics, the media and a promotional logic entails that certain stakeholders, channels and type of communication is prioritized. In both cases, experts are involved to a low extent and other aspects than risks are highlighted.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Medie- och kommunikationsvetenskap -- Kommunikationsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Media and Communications -- Communication Studies (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

radiation protection expert

risk communication

International Radiation Protection Association Guidelines

Publikations- och innehållstyp

kon (ämneskategori)

ref (ämneskategori)