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The Social Construction of Risk in a Rural Community: Responses of Local Residents to the 1990 Hagersville (Ontario) Tire Fire
Author(s) -
Eyles John,
Taylor S. Martin,
Baxter Jamie,
Sider Doug,
Willms Dennis
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
risk analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.972
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1539-6924
pISSN - 0272-4332
DOI - 10.1111/j.1539-6924.1993.tb01080.x
Subject(s) - risk governance , corporate governance , qualitative research , conceptual model , environmental planning , risk management , conceptual framework , risk perception , perception , engineering , sociology , business , psychology , geography , social science , computer science , finance , database , neuroscience
This paper presents the findings of research relating to the 1990 Hagersville (Ontario) tire fire. After reviewing the literature on risk and risk perception, it begins by describing the event as well as the community in which it occurred. The reasons for adopting a qualitative research design are then established practical, conceptual, and methodological. The residents' accounts of the fire, evacuation, and aftermath in terms of concerns, anxieties, and responses are described. Five themes emerge: economic, community, health, environmental, and governance. The paper concludes by putting forward a case study‐derived model of risk appraisal and management, and by relating the findings to policy issues.