The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) is tasked to protect people and the environment from radiation. As one way to fulfill this mandate the BfS is informing the German public about radiation protection using a wide range of communication activities.
As part of its risk and science communication, the BfS uses participatory formats to reach out to and interact with its various target groups. Digital participatory formats are becoming increasingly important here. However, the evidence base regarding the benefits and limitations of digital participatory risk and science communication is currently still limited.
In this context, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) commissioned the ConPolicy Institute to conduct a study. The aim of the study is to investigate the potential and challenges of participatory formats in risk and science communication for radiation protection topics. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are to be used as part of a mixed methods approach.
Specifically, the following five work packages are planned for the project:
- WP 1: Conducting a literature review of the existing evidence as well as conducting expert interviews
- WP 2: Conducting and analyzing selected digital participatory communication formats through a quantitative online survey
- WP 3: Deepening the gathered insights from WP 2 through qualitative depth interviews
- WP 4: Summary of the results in a final report
The ConPolicy Institute is leading the project and is primarily responsible for carrying out the work packages.
The market research company INNOFACT AG, Prof. Dr. Constanze Rossmann, expert in health and risk communication, and Philipp Schrögel, expert in scientific communication, especially participative formats, support the project.
