Citation

Wells NM, Evans GW. J. Environ. Psychol. 1996; 16(3): 247-257.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, Academic Press)

DOI

10.1006/jevp.1996.0020

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Within the framework of behavioral decision theory, this research compares the risk perceptions of gerontological design professionals to those of older adults (>65 years old) for injuries among older adults involving 18 consumer products or architectural features within the home. The accuracy of these risk judgments is determined by comparison with national statistics for emergency-room treated injuries involving specified products and features. Neither design professionals who design for the elderly nor older adults themselves are particularly accurate in their home injury risk estimation. The two groups do differ in risk perception accuracy concerning certain products. The 'availability bias' is examined as a possible explanatory variable, to explain differences in risk perception between the two groups. Availability is operationalized as past experience with injuries to older people involving the specified terms. There is evidence that experience partially mediates between-group differences in the case of over-estimated risk. The under-estimation of risk was also examined. Under-estimation analyses revealed that level of experience completely mediates between-group differences in several cases of under-estimated risk. Characteristics of products and architectural features consistently over- or under-estimated are examined as well.