Abstract
Interactive exchange of information and opinions on risk is required in the field of food-related risk communication, and effective methods for communication are explored. In the case of effects on health by radioactive substances derived from the accident at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant，people are extremely anxious about the health effects, regard government and media with distrust and tend to lack scientific information in face of the emergency, there is a compelling need for the interactive risk communication including elaborate information processing. This study aims to provide an interactive risk communication model and examine effectiveness of it through focus group communication. This model has the following characteristics; the purpose is not persuasion; scientific information that answers questions from participats is created through communication; experts make a presentation in two segments, followed by a group discussion only by participating citizens (‘horizontal discussion’). The examinations were conducted in Tokyo and Kyoto from June to August, 2011, on 51 people: 8 groups and confirmed the effectiveness by evaluation of the method and changes in knowledge and risk perception of participants.
