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Prof Lorraine Whitmarsh, Prof W Poortinga
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Applications are invited for a PhD studentship, part funded by Serious Brain Power (SBP), that explores risk perceptions and attitudes towards emerging and/or controversial energy sources/technologies.
This will draw on and develop relevant social and environmental psychology theories on risk, attitudes, persuasion and identity (e.g. psychometric paradigm, place identity, elaboration likelihood model).
Recent public protests about shale gas, and ongoing public concerns about nuclear and wind developments, highlight the importance of understanding public risk perceptions and attitudes for moving towards a low-carbon society. While research has focused on attitudes to existing technologies (e.g. nuclear, wind), little is known about the bases of public concerns about emerging technologies (e.g. shale gas, smart grids); how the technologies and associated proposals/policies are understood; or how perceptions of the risks or benefits of these energy sources may be influenced by factors such as media coverage; risk exposure; perceived benefits; community experience; individuals’ values, place identity, knowledge; and trust in regulators and developers.
The project will likely apply a mixed-method approach to address some or all of the following questions: How does the public perceive technologies, proposals and policies to use new energy sources or technologies (e.g., shale gas)? How do they assess the risks and rewards associated with these energy sources/technologies? What influences public risk perceptions and acceptability of new energy sources and technologies? How do perceptions differ across individuals, communities and stakeholders, and between experts and non-experts? What relevant theories explain attitude formation and change in respect of these technologies?
Supervisors:
The supervisors will be Dr Lorraine Whitmarsh and Dr Wouter Poortinga.
For examples of our recent work, please see our departmental webpages (e.g., www.understanding-risk.org).
Key words - Environment, attitude, risk perception, energy, psychology, controversial, persuasion, place identity, public protests, shale gas, public concerns, understanding, emerging technologies, mixed-method, attitude formation
This will draw on and develop relevant social and environmental psychology theories on risk, attitudes, persuasion and identity (e.g. psychometric paradigm, place identity, elaboration likelihood model).
Recent public protests about shale gas, and ongoing public concerns about nuclear and wind developments, highlight the importance of understanding public risk perceptions and attitudes for moving towards a low-carbon society. While research has focused on attitudes to existing technologies (e.g. nuclear, wind), little is known about the bases of public concerns about emerging technologies (e.g. shale gas, smart grids); how the technologies and associated proposals/policies are understood; or how perceptions of the risks or benefits of these energy sources may be influenced by factors such as media coverage; risk exposure; perceived benefits; community experience; individuals’ values, place identity, knowledge; and trust in regulators and developers.
The project will likely apply a mixed-method approach to address some or all of the following questions: How does the public perceive technologies, proposals and policies to use new energy sources or technologies (e.g., shale gas)? How do they assess the risks and rewards associated with these energy sources/technologies? What influences public risk perceptions and acceptability of new energy sources and technologies? How do perceptions differ across individuals, communities and stakeholders, and between experts and non-experts? What relevant theories explain attitude formation and change in respect of these technologies?
Supervisors:
The supervisors will be Dr Lorraine Whitmarsh and Dr Wouter Poortinga.
For examples of our recent work, please see our departmental webpages (e.g., www.understanding-risk.org).
Key words - Environment, attitude, risk perception, energy, psychology, controversial, persuasion, place identity, public protests, shale gas, public concerns, understanding, emerging technologies, mixed-method, attitude formation
Funding Notes
The studentship will commence in either October 2013 or January 2014 and will cover tuition fees as well as a maintenance grant. For 2012-13 the maintenance grant for full-time students is £13,590. This figure may change slightly each year.
Eligibility:
Full awards (fees plus maintenance stipend) are open to UK Nationals, and EU students. To be successful, you should possess or expect to obtain, a first-class or upper second honours degree (or equivalent) in psychology or a similar subject.
A postgraduate Masters degree (or equivalent) would strengthen your application, but is not a requirement.
Eligibility:
Full awards (fees plus maintenance stipend) are open to UK Nationals, and EU students. To be successful, you should possess or expect to obtain, a first-class or upper second honours degree (or equivalent) in psychology or a similar subject.
A postgraduate Masters degree (or equivalent) would strengthen your application, but is not a requirement.
References
If you wish to apply, please click the button below or visit our website.
Please ensure you select an application form with an Oct 2013 or Jan 2014 start date and put ‘Risk perceptions, attitudes and energy’ as the proposed title and ‘SBP Funded Studentship’ when it asks about funding
Please ensure you select an application form with an Oct 2013 or Jan 2014 start date and put ‘Risk perceptions, attitudes and energy’ as the proposed title and ‘SBP Funded Studentship’ when it asks about funding
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