Social amplification of problem chain-recognition effect on public policies: Escalated issue spillover from government distrust and media use

Advanced management of risk controversies is of pressing need because risk controversies cause tangible and intangible losses to society as a whole. The current study tested the problem chain-recognition effect on policies involving highly-publicized risk controversies. Problem chain-recognition effect refers to the perceptual tendency that people are likely to recognize similar or related issues to an identified problem as problematic because problems are often connected together and embedded within a larger network of problems. This effect is easily triggered when an individual actively seeks, exchanges, and discusses information about a perceived problem., For this study, an online survey of 748 citizens in a Chinese society was conducted, employing Kim and Grunig’s (2011) situational theory of problem solving and Kasperson et al.’s (1998) social amplification of risks. Results indicated an existing problem-chain recognition effect from the US beef import policy (a food risk controversy) to the policy concerning nuclear power plant construction (a technological risk controversy) among the hot-issue public built around the US beef issue. The problem-chain recognition effect led to the public’s paying attention to information on the nuclear power plant controversy but not to their seeking behavior for such information. The effect was amplified by individuals’ low trust in the government rather than their level of media use. Theoretical and practical implications suggested by the findings were discussed for strategic risk management and a better understanding of hot-issue publics in risk situations.