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Communicating Uncertain Risks: Models and Methods. Prof. Dr. Peter M. Wiedemann Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, ITAS Shenzhen, BGI , 1 st Sigenet Workshop. “…. facts are like cows. If you look them in the face hard enough they generally run away.” Dorothy L. Sayers. Overview.
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Communicating Uncertain Risks: Models and Methods Prof. Dr. Peter M. Wiedemann Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, ITAS Shenzhen, BGI , 1stSigenet Workshop
“…. facts are like cows. If you look them in the face hard enough they generally run away.” • Dorothy L. Sayers
Overview • Uncertain Risk • Risk Communication • Hurdles and Barriers • Models and Methods • Epilogue
Overview • Uncertain Risk • Risk Communication • Hurdles and Barriers • Models and Methods • Epilogue
Risk is Everywhere The risk concept could be applied to everything.” M. Power The Risk Management of Everything. Rethinkingthe politicsofuncertainty. London: Demos 2004
Risk is Everywhere • Living close to a power station • Working in a chemical plant • Skiing • Buying shares • Sun bathing • Playing golf • Being (un)married
Components of the Risk Concept • Effect: Cause-effect relationship • Loss: Negative relevance of the effect • Uncertainty: Probability of the loss • Level of evidence: Knowledge about these components
Uncertain Risks • Is there a risk? • How large is the risk?
Peter Wiedemann Uncertainty is business as usual IARC Classification of potential carcinogenic substances
How big is the risk? Source: WHO (2007) : Extremely Low Frequency Fields Environmental HealthCriteria Monograph No.23
Overview • Topic: Uncertain Risk • Risk Communication • Hurdles and Barriers • Models and Methods • Epilogue
RiskCommunication Interactive exchange of information about health or environmental risks among risk assessors, managers, news media, interested groups, and the general public. WHO 2004, IPCS Risk Assessment Terminology
Risk Communication Purpose of RC • RC is needed for informed decision making and informed judgements about health impacts
RC Examples • What does a positive mammography screening test indicate? • How probable is it to get breast cancer if I have a BRCA 1 mutation? • Are cell phone safe for children?
Ingredients of Good RC • Reliable & valid data • Over all picture (don´t lose the sight of the wood for the trees) • Good reporting (transparency, clarity, reasonableness, unbiased information processing) • Credibility
Overview • Topic: Uncertain Risk • Risk Communication • Hurdles and Barriers • Models and Methods • Epilogue
Hurdles and Barriers • Complexity • Inquisitorial science system in an adversarial societal context • Mis-attribution of uncertainty • Biased assimilation / confirmation bias
Overview • Topic: Uncertain Risk • Risk Communication • Hurdles and Challenges • Models and Methods • Epilogue
Various Models • Risk perception • Risk communication • Dialogue theories • Persuasion theories • Social marketing • Theories of information processing
Routes of Information Processing Elaboration Route Information processing Decision criteria Message Central Careful, analytic Quality of arguments High level Petty, R. E., & Cacioppo, J. T. (1986). Communication and Persuasion: Central andPeripheralRoutesto Attitude Change Peripheral Cursory, intuitive Persuasive cues Low level
Evidence Maps • CORA
Evidence Maps • EM are tools for synthesizing reporting evidence • Process structure • Reporting structure
Evidence Assessment Evidence Maps Visualization of basic facts Evidence base Pro and con-arguments Conclusion Uncertainty
< ...> < ...> supporting supporting Conclusion: < ... > Remaining Uncertainties < ... > attenuating attenuating < ... > < ... > Evidence Map - Elements • Evidence Basis: • <Number of studies> Pro-Argument: < ... > Contra-Argument: < ... >
Routes of Information Processing Elaboration Route Information processing Decision criteria Message Central Careful, analytic Quality of arguments High level Petty, R. E., & Cacioppo, J. T. (1986). Communication and Persuasion: Central andPeripheralRoutesto Attitude Change Peripheral Cursory, intuitive Persuasive cues Low level
Framework for communicating risk assessment reports (CORA) CORA
Epilogue The future is not yet know
Future project: Reporting evidence including uncertainties of Omics based tests and therapies • Webpage
Thank you very much! Peter.Wiedemann@itas.fzk.de www.wiedemannonline.com