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OCR for page 214
Glossary
Affected parties. People, groups, or organizations that may experience
benefit or harm as a result of a hazard, or of the process leading to risk
characterization, or of a decision about risk. They need not be aware of the
possible harm to be considered affected.
Analysis. The systematic application of specific theories and methods,
including those from natural science, social science, engineering, decision
science, logic, mathematics, and law, for the purpose of collecting and
interpreting data and drawing conclusions about phenomena. It may be
qualitative or quantitative. Its competence is typically judged by criteria
developed within the fields of expertise from which the theories and
methods come.
Broadly based deliberation. Deliberation in which participation from
across the spectrum of interested and affected parties, by policy makers, and
by specialists in risk analysis is sufficiently diverse to ensure that the im-
portant, decision-relevant knowledge enters the process, that the impor-
tant perspectives are considered, and that the parties' legitimate concerns
about the inclusiveness and openness of the process are addressed. Such
deliberation involves the participation or at least the representation of the
relevant range of interests and values as well as of scientific and technical
expertise.
NOTE: When definitions refer to other defined terms, the latter appear in italics.
214
OCR for page 215
GLOSSARY
215
Deliberation . Any process for communication and for raising and col-
lectively considering issues. In the process leading to risk characterization,
deliberation may involve various combinations of scientific and technical
specialists, public officials, and interested and affected parties, and may
be formalized (as in mediation) or occur in informal settings. It may be
used both to increase understanding and to arrive at substantive deci-
sions. In deliberation, people discuss, ponder, exchange observations
and views, reflect upon information and judgments concerning matters of
mutual interest, and attempt to persuade each other. Deliberations about
risk often include discussions of the role, subjects, methods, and results of
analysis. Bargaining and mediation are specific deliberative processes, as
are debating, consulting, and commenting.
Hazard. An act or phenomenon that has the potential to produce harm
or other undesirable consequences to humans or what they value. Haz-
ards may come from physical phenomena (such as radioactivity, sound
waves, magnetic fields, fire, floods, explosions), chemicals (ozone, mer-
cury, dioxins, carbon dioxide, drugs, food additives), organisms (viruses,
bacteria), commercial products (toys, tools, automobiles), or human be-
havior (drunk driving, firing guns). Hazards can also come from infor-
mation (e.g., information that a person carries a gene that increases sus-
ceptibility to cancer may expose the person to job discrimination or
increased insurance costs).
Interested parties. People, groups, or organizations that decide to be-
come informed about and involved in a risk characterization or decision-
making process. Interested parties may or may not also be affected parties.
Problem formulation. An activity in which public officials, scientists,
and interested and affected parties clarify the nature of the choices to be
considered, the attendant hazards and risks, and the knowledge needed
to inform the choices. Problem formulation sets the agenda for the other
steps leading to a risk characterization: process design, selection of options
and outcomes to consider, gathering and interpreting information, and
synthesis.
Risk. A concept used to give meaning to things, forces, or circumstances
that pose danger to people or to what they value. Descriptions of risk are
typically stated in terms of the likelihood of harm or loss from a hazard
and usually include: an identification of what is "at risk" and may be
harmed or lost (e.g., health of human beings or an ecosystem, personal
property, quality of life, ability to carry on an economic activity); the
OCR for page 216
216 UNDERSTANDING RISK: INFORMING DECISIONSINADEMOC~TIC SOCIETY
hazard that may occasion this loss; and a judgment about the likelihood
that harm will occur.
Risk analysis. The application of methods of analysis to matters of risk.
Its aim is to increase understanding of the substantive qualities, serious-
ness, likelihood, and conditions of a hazard or risk and of the options for
managing it. Although risk analysis is sometimes conceived to be rel-
evant only to gathering, interpreting, and summarizing information about
certain possible consequences of a hazard, analysis has other uses in risk
characterization.
.Risk characterization . A synthesis and summary of information about
a hazard that addresses the needs and interests of decision makers and of
interested and affected parties. Risk characterization is a prelude to deci-
sion making and depends on an iterative, analytic-deliberative process.
Representative terms from entire chapter:
affected parties
