Effects of selective outcome reporting on risk perception

Authors: F Freudenstein, R J Croft, S P Loughran, B M Zeleke, P M Wiedemann

Year: 2021 Feb 3

Category: Environmental Research

Journal: Environ Res

DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110821

URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33548295/

Abstract

Overview

The study investigates the effects of selective outcome reporting on public risk perception, particularly in contexts indicating increased health risks from mobile phone usage.

Methodology

The study utilizes data from the Interphone Study, focusing on mobile phone usage and its potential link to glioma (a type of brain cancer). Participants were separated into two groups for an online experiment. One group was selectively informed about a potential relationship between intense mobile phone usage and heightened glioma risk.

Findings

  • Selective reporting increases health risk perception compared to when complete information is shared.
  • Subjects informed selectively exhibited a tendency to overgeneralize the risk of brain cancer to all mobile phone users.
  • However, this overgeneralization did not extend to other electromagnetic field sources, suggesting specific concerns tied to mobile phone use.

Conclusion

The results underscore the importance of complete and transparent reporting in study outcomes for effective risk communication, to avoid overgeneralization and misinformed health risk perception among the public.

selective reporting risk perception mobile phone usage cancer risk electromagnetic fields health communication epidemiology
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