Testing Map Features Designed to Convey the Uncertainty of Cancer Risk: Insights Gained From Assessing Judgments of Information Adequacy and Communication Goals. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Severtson, Dolores J.
• Other Names: Nucci Mary guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Science communication. Volume 37:Number 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 59
• Page End: 88
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: environmental hazards -- risk communication -- visual communication -- uncertainty -- semiotics -- images; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Knowledge, Sociology of -- Periodicals; Communication in science -- Periodicals; Communication of technical information -- Periodicals; Communication in medicine -- Periodicals; Information scientifique -- Périodiques; Information technique -- Périodiques; Communication en sciences sociales -- Périodiques; Communication en médecine -- Périodiques; 300.14
• DOI: 10.1177/1075547014565908
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1075-5470

Abstract

Barriers to communicating the uncertainty of environmental health risks include preferences for certain information and low numeracy. Map features designed to communicate the magnitude and uncertainty of estimated cancer risk from air pollution were tested among 826 participants to assess how map features influenced judgments of adequacy and the intended communication goals. An uncertain versus certain visual feature was judged as less adequate but met both communication goals and addressed numeracy barriers. Expressing relative risk using words communicated uncertainty and addressed numeracy barriers but was judged as highly inadequate. Risk communication and visual cognition concepts were applied to explain findings.