Nuclear weapons risk communication: evaluating the impact of message exposure and format

Kristyn L. Karl and Ashley Lytle

Journal of Risk Research, 2021, vol. 24, issue 10, 1205-1227

Abstract: Many experts believe the risk of nuclear war today is the highest it’s been in generations. Yet much of the public has little awareness of nuclear threats and is ill-prepared to take the actions needed to save lives, including their own. Using a survey experiment on a diverse national sample of U.S. citizens fielded across two time periods, this study evaluates the impact of risk communication regarding nuclear weapons threat. We measure the effectiveness of nuclear preparedness messages across formats, finding infographics to be the most effective. Importantly, we also find that any message exposure improves recall of the recommended action, confidence, and message acceptance, with these shifts positively impacting subsequent behavioral intentions.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1080/13669877.2020.1819387

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