2006 Volume 13 Issue 1 Pages 32-46
The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of critical thinking (objectiveness, evidence based judgment, inquiry-mind, and awareness for logical thinking), the number of mass media they accessed (newspaper, newscast, and infotainment), risk perception, seeking for information, demands of risk management to governments and companies, and other cognitive factors (e.g., perceived cost, risk controllability) on behaviors to avoid risks of endocrine disruptors. Participants (N=1420) completed a questionnaire booklet that had the 10 scales. The data was divided into four groups (under 40 male, over 40 male, under 40 female, and over 40 female) and analyzed with structure equation modeling. Results showed that females or over 40 age people were more sensitive about risk and tended to avoid risk. For decision-making processes, all groups had the two tendencies as follows: (a) evidence based judgment affected on risk-avoidance behavior mediated by mass media accessed and perceived benefit, (b) inquiry-mind affected on risk-avoidance behavior mediated by seeking for information and demands of risk management. Male groups had the two processes that (c) inquiry-mind affected on risk-avoidance behavior mediated by risk controllability, awareness for endocrine disruptors, and risk perception, (d) the number of mass media they accessed affected on risk avoidance behavior mediated by awareness for endocrine disruptors and demands of risk management to governments. Female groups had the process that (e) objectiveness and evidence based judgment affected on risk-avoidance behavior mediated by mass media accessed, perceived cost, and risk perception. Mass media accessed affected on various cognitive factors.
