Cited by 248Risk Perception and ManagementPatient-Provider Communication in HealthcareClimate Change Communication and Perception

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Risk and Uncertainty Communication

Spiegelhalter, David·2017·Annual Review of Statistics and Its Application

DOI 10.1146/annurev-statistics-010814-020148

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Abstract

This review briefly examines the vast range of techniques used to communicate risk assessments arising from statistical analysis. After discussing essential psychological and sociological issues, I focus on individual health risks and relevant research on communicating numbers, verbal expressions, graphics, and conveying deeper uncertainty. I then consider practice in a selection of diverse case studies, including gambling, the benefits and risks of pharmaceuticals, weather forecasting, natural hazards, climate change, environmental exposures, security and intelligence, industrial reliability, and catastrophic national and global risks. There are some tentative final conclusions, but the primary message is to acknowledge expert guidance, be clear about objectives, and work closely with intended audiences.

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Eine gesunde Psyche
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Authors: Spiegelhalter, D.
Affiliations: University of Cambridge (GB)
Corresponding author: Spiegelhalter, David
ORCID: Spiegelhalter, David
Venue: Annual Review of Statistics and Its Application
Publisher: Annual Reviews
Published: 2017-03-07
Volume: 4
Issue: 1
Pages: 31-60
ISSN: 2326-8298 (ISSN-L)
2326-831X
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-statistics-010814-020148
OpenAlex: W2529483981
Cited by: 248
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 33 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 16
FWCI: 4.77
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Annual Review of Statistics and Its Application (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Risk Perception and Management
Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Climate Change Communication and Perception
Keywords: risk communication, uncertainty communication, risk assessment, health risks, gambling, weather forecasting, natural hazards, climate change, environmental exposure, production reliability, catastrophic risk, expert guidance, audience understanding

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Risk and Uncertainty Communication

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