The roles of contextual moderation and personality in relation to the knowledge--risk link in the workplace

While hypothesized, a consistent association between knowledge about a hazard and the estimation of risk associated with that hazard has not been found. Risk communication is premised on the fact that knowledge about a hazard (information) will change people's perceptions of risk and behaviour. In this review methodological and theoretical factors that might account for this lack of consistent association are explored. In this context issues to do with the measurement and assessment of hazard knowledge, knowledge calibration, and the role of context as a moderator are explored. It is argued that contextual factors moderate the knowledge--risk link, with this link being stronger in less controllable, ambiguous contexts. Further this review asks: How can messages be framed (using prospect theory) so as to be more effective in the work place? It is argued that messages framed as gains should be more useful for prevention behaviours (e.g. wearing ear guards) and messages framed as losses should be more effective for detection behaviours (using radiation meters). Finally, the role of personality (e.g. need for cognition, typical intellectual engagement, and self-esteem) in relation to knowledge about a hazard, message framing and risk perception is discussed.