risk management, expert knowledge

1. THE DISPUTED ROLE OF EXPERT
KNOWLEDGE IN UNDERSTANDING
AND MANAGING RISK
3/11/2013
How expert knowledge can be contested?
THE
OPEN
UNIERSITY
UK
FELIPE
VEIT
©
All
rights
reserved

2.
Contents
1.
Introduction,
concepts
and
definitions…………………………………………………………2
1.1 Risk…………………..…………………………………………………………………………………….2
1.1.1 Material
risk…………………………………..……………………………………..2
1.1.2 Symbolic
risk.………………………………………………………………………..2
1.1.3 Risk
management…………………………………………………………………2
1.2 Probability……………………………………………………………………………………..……….3
1.3 Uncertainty…………………………………………………………………………………………….3
1.4 Expert
knowledge…………………………………………………………………………………..3
1.5 Lay
people………………………………………………………………………………………………3
1.6 Epidemiology………………………………………………………………………………………….3
1.7 Prevention
paradox…………………………………………………………………………………3
2.
Theory:
A
risky
society?…………………….………………………………………………………….4
3.
The
Evidence…………………………………………………………………………………………………4
3.1 When
expert
knowledge
is
contradictory:
Experts
vs.
Experts……………….4
3.2 Epidemiologists
vs.
Medical
experts....…………………………………………………...5
3.3 Lay
knowledge
vs.
Expert
Knowledge…………………………………………….…….…5
4.
5.
Pointers
towards
possible
conclusions………………………………………………………….6
References……………………………………………………………………………………………………6
Page 1

3.
1.
Introduction,
concepts
and
definitions
In
contemporary
society
people
are
under
constant
threat
of
being
harmed
in
regular
activities
and
in
different
ways.
Individuals
may
benefit
if
being
aware
of
a
potentially
dangerous
situation
when
this
is
avoidable.
Some
concepts
and
definitions
that
might
help
understanding
what
comes
with
the
factor
risk,
including
a
more
detailed
account
of
risk,
will
be
showed
in
the
first
part
of
this
report.
In
session
2,
the
theory
of
a
risky
society
will
present
the
idea
of
a
society
potentially
more
dangerous
than
ever.
Moving
from
the
‘foundations’
to
the
‘core’
of
this
report,
session
3
will
build
upon
three
different
circumstances
in
which
expert
knowledge
can
be
contested.
First
one
is
that
when
the
experts
provide
different
accounts
about
the
risks
of
a
particular
situation
using
a
case
study
related
to
a
contaminated
soil.
The
second
example
will
show
how
epidemiological
knowledge
diverges
from
medical
knowledge
using
the
prevention
paradox
concept
to
exemplify
another
possible
way
to
contest
expert
knowledge.
The
main
session
of
this
report
will
then
end
by
showing
how
lay
knowledge
may
oppose
expert
knowledge
by
demonstrating
that
people
often
assume
their
own
risk
or
take
decisions
according
to
their
perceptions.
1.1
Risk
One
definition
refers
to
“The
state
in
which
there
is
a
possibility
of
known
danger
or
harm,
which
if
avoided
may
lead
to
benefits”
and
another
to
“a
particular
and
known
outcome
combined
with
the
consequences
of
the
outcome”
(Carter
and
Jordan,
2009,
p.
59).
1.1.1 Material
risk:
A
tangible
consequence
of
being
exposed
to
risk
like
driving
a
car
very
fast
and
getting
disabled
in
case
of
an
accident.
1.1.2 Symbolic
risk:
When
getting
exposed
to
risk
has
a
meaning
like
one
who
gets
the
‘color
of
summer’
to
show-­‐off
that
he/she
was
on
holidays.
In
session
3,
the
risk
of
Sun
exposure
will
be
further
debated.
1.1.3 Risk
management:
When
a
risky
situation
is
known
and
something
is
done
in
order
to
prevent
or
reduce
negative
consequences.
Page 2

4. 1.2
Probability
Is
a
mathematical
expression
which
shows
the
likelihood
or
chance
of
something
to
happen.
Later
in
session
3
when
evaluating
the
case
of
Sun
exposure,
it
will
be
clear
the
role
that
probability
play
in
defining
how
people
take
some
decisions
in
face
of
a
situation
of
risk.
1.3
Uncertainty
It
refers
to
the
lack
of
knowledge
or
a
state
of
doubt
regarding
the
consequences
of
an
action.
In
the
context
of
this
report,
people
might
not
be
completely
sure
about
the
‘real’
risks
of
a
situation
as
session
3
will
show
with
the
case
of
the
contaminated
soil.
1.4
Expert
knowledge
Expert
knowledge
arises
from
the
study
of
a
particular
area
in
most
cases
through
scientific
methods
(e.g.
research
and
observation).
An
‘expert’
is
distinct
from
a
‘lay’
person
in
the
sense
that
he/she
knows
more
about
a
particular
subject
and
is
able
to
provide
reliable
advices
in
situations
of
risk.
Experts
can
be
sociologists,
journalists,
epidemiologists
and
so
on.
1.5
Lay
people
Lay
people
are
those
who
do
not
have
knowledge
of
a
specific
area.
One
can
be
expert
in
Social
Sciences
but
‘lay’
in
Physics.
They
use
lay
knowledge
and
this
is
somehow
an
opposite
or
at
least
different
way
of
managing
risk
than
those
from
the
experts.
1.6
Epidemiology
Epidemiology
is
one
type
of
expert
knowledge
and
generally
“is
the
study
of
the
various
things
that
contribute
to
illness,
disease
and
death
in
human
populations
(Carter
and
Jordan,
2009,
p.
83).
Epidemiologists
are
interested
in
the
risks
a
disease
may
represent
to
a
population
as
a
whole,
not
individually
as,
for
instance,
a
family
doctor
would
do.
1.7
Prevention
paradox
“Any
measure
in
public
health
that
brings
large
overall
benefits
to
the
community
offers
little
to
each
participant
individual”
(Rose,
1981,
p.
1850,
quoted
in
Carter
and
Jordan,
2009,
p.
87).
Page 3

5. 2.
Theory:
The
risk
society
In
the
thesis
named
‘On
the
way
to
the
industrial
risk-­‐society?
Outline
of
an
argument’
(1989),
the
German
sociologist
Ulrich
Beck
developed
a
theory
about
a
risky
society
which
debated:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Current
society
full
of
harms
more
complex
to
manage.
The
Chernobyl
nuclear
power
plant
accident
in
1986
and
the
way
‘invisible’
risks
are
associated
to
it.
‘Lay’
people
relying
on
‘experts’
advice
regarding
the
potential
risks
of
being
in
contact
with
radioactive
substances.
The
accident
as
a
symbol
of
the
contemporary
society
with
abundant
risks
with
different
meanings
as
those
seen
in
the
prior
industrial
society.
Risk
as
an
inherent
danger
in
anything,
a
probability,
the
central
element
of
life
in
the
risk
society.
The
concern
of
‘the
role
expert
knowledge
in
defining
the
risks
that
go
on
to
cause
of
anxiety
for
us
all’
(Beck
cited
in
Carter
and
Jordan,
2009,
p.
81).
3.
The
Evidence
Possible
ways
expert
knowledge
can
be
disputed:
When
expert
knowledge
is
contradictory:
Experts
vs.
Experts
3.1
•
•
•
Expert
knowledge
is
created
by
different
scientists,
in
different
times
and
using
different
parameters.
This
may
lead
to
different
accounts
of
risk.
The
allotment
case
study
in
which
suddenly
a
family
was
advised
not
to
handle
the
soil
due
to
contamination
clearly
shows
that
experts
may
have
different
concepts
of
risk
in
the
same
situation.
First
tests
indicated
a
poisoned
soil
and
later
on,
a
change
in
the
tests
indicated
that
the
soil
was
free
of
harms.
Page 4

6.
3.2
Epidemiological
vs.
Medical
knowledge
•
•
•
•
3.3
To
‘prevent’
or
to
‘fix’?
Epidemiologists
work
with
campaigns
like
vaccinations
that
affect
great
portions
of
the
population
but
only
a
small
part
of
it
is
benefited
(e.g.
600
children
being
vaccinated
against
diphtheria
while
the
probability
was
that
only
1
would
get
the
disease).
A
doctor
who
knows
his/her
patient’s
health
state
through
particular
examinations
may
conclude
that
this
person
is
very
healthy
despite
some
attitudes
like
smoking
and
sun
tanning,
considered
a
‘death’
sentence
in
some
epidemiologists
campaigns.
The
existence
of
characters
like
‘Uncle
Norman’
and
‘The
last
person’
as
symbols
that
exceptions
exists,
just
like
in
the
vaccination’s
case.
Epidemiologists
may
claim
that
bad
eating
habits
or
the
lack
of
‘healthy’
activities
are
danger
but
this
is
not
true
for
100%
of
the
people.
Lay
Knowledge
vs.
Expert
knowledge
•
Only
part
of
the
opinion
formed
by
‘lay’
people
consider
expert
knowledge
(‘A
risky
world?’,
2009,
track
3).
• People
may
have
different
perceptions
about
risks
and
decide
by
themselves
•
•
what
is
best
for
them
according
to
what
they
believe
–
What
the
chances
are
of
developing
a
cancer
due
to
sun
exposure?
Sun
tanning
is
an
example
of
people
aware
of
the
existence
of
risks,
but
their
understanding
of
health
was
different
as
they
valuated
the
‘feel
good’
factor
despite
the
risks
stated
by
experts.
In
the
allotment
case
the
family
decided
not
to
continue
due
the
uncertainties
created.
“We
didn’t
feel
safe”
stated
by
the
owner
Tim
Jordan
clearly
shows
a
disagreement
with
the
situation
proposed
by
experts
(‘A
risky
world?’,
2009,
track
3).
Page 5

7. 4.
Pointers
towards
possible
conclusions
• Understanding
and
managing
risk
is
rather
complex
as
it
involves
many
interconnected
factors
such
as
uncertainty,
probability
and
different
forms
of
knowledge.
• Risk
may
be
visible
or
not,
certain
or
uncertain
and
it
is
perceived
and
managed
differently
from
people
to
people.
• Experts
in
the
same
area
may
diverge
and
create
uncertainties.
• Different
ways
of
managing
risks
can
be
seen
in
different
areas
of
expertise
(Epidemiologists
vs.
physicians).
• Lay
knowledge
plays
an
important
role
when
is
about
contesting
expert
knowledge
as
it
acts
in
areas
where
science
might
have
limitations
in
exploring.
• Expert
knowledge
is
passive
of
being
reinterpreted
according
to
people’s
perceptions
and
values.
Word
count:
1.256
6
References
Beck,
U.
(1989)
‘On
the
way
to
the
industrial
risk-­‐society?
Outline
of
an
argument’,
Thesis
Eleven,
vol.
23,
pp.
86-­‐103.
‘A
risky
world
(2009)
Exploring
social
Lives
[Audio
CD
1],
Milton
Keynes,
The
Open
University.
Carte,
S.
and
Jordan,
T.
(2009)
‘Living
with
risk
and
risky
living’
in
Bromley,
S.,
Clarke,
J.,
Hinchliffe,
S.
and
Taylor,
S.
(eds)
Exploring
Social
Lives,
Milton
Keynes,
The
Open
University.
Page 6

8.
Page 7