2.3. The Present Research
We designed three studies to examine the psychological mechanism through
which government trust affects the public’s perception of risk in the
context of flood threats in China. Study 1 examines whether the
relationship between trust and risk perception exists. Study 2 examines
the mechanism of the effects of trust and risk perception. In Study 3,
we designed an experiment to re-examine whether government trust has an
impact on information processing methods and affects subsequent risk
perception.
The present research expands on previous studies in three important
ways. First, it examines the relationships of government trust and risk
perception in China, broadening the scope of risk perception research
beyond Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic samples
(Henrich, Heine, & Norenzayan, 2010). Second, the relationship between
trust and risk perception is elucidated with flood risk as a backdrop,
using correlational and experimental methods, which will ensure robust
results. Third, we examined the mechanism of trust and risk perception.
STUDY 1
Study 1 was designed to examine whether government trust is negatively
associated with the public’s perception of flood risk. We collected data
using the questionnaire method and observed the relationships between
variables.