Qiu Zunxiang, Liu Quanlong, Li Xinchun, Zhang Yueqian
School of Economics and Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China.
Key Construction Bases of Philosophy and Social Sciences in Jiangsu Universities (Safety Management Research Center), China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China.
Saf Health Work. 2024 Sep;15(3):300-309. doi: 10.1016/j.shaw.2024.05.004. Epub 2024 May 28.
Risk perception plays a crucial role in workers' unsafe behaviors. However, little research has explored why workers generate biased risk perceptions, namely underestimating or overestimating the risks of unsafe actions. Cognitive biases in risk perception arise from uncertainties about the dangers of unsafe behaviors. As a typical heuristic strategy, the anchoring effect is critical in decision-making under uncertain conditions. Consequently, this study empirically analyzed the influence of anchoring effects on workers' risk perception.
In 2022, a survey was conducted with 1,418 coal mine workers from Shanxi Province, China. The survey instruments assessed workers' risk perception of unsafe behavior, anchoring effects, need for cognition, and safety knowledge. Multivariable linear regression models were employed to analyze the associations among these variables.
The findings verified the proposed anchoring effects. Specifically, experimenter-provided high-risk anchors led workers to overestimate unsafe behavior risks, thus reducing their tendency to engage in such behavior. In contrast, experimenter-provided low-risk anchors and accident-injury experiences (self-generated anchors) decreased workers' risk perception, increasing their propensity to engage in unsafe behavior. Additionally, workers' safety knowledge and need for cognition significantly affected anchoring effects.
This research enhances workplace safety studies by applying the anchoring effect from psychology to risk perception research. Suggestions for improving risk perception encompass implementing hazard warnings, fostering safety education, and providing training. Furthermore, managers should give special attention to workers with accident-injury experience and promptly correct their accident fluke mentality, thereby improving overall risk awareness.
风险认知在工人的不安全行为中起着至关重要的作用。然而，很少有研究探讨为什么工人会产生有偏差的风险认知，即低估或高估不安全行为的风险。风险认知中的认知偏差源于对不安全行为危险的不确定性。作为一种典型的启发式策略，锚定效应在不确定条件下的决策中至关重要。因此，本研究实证分析了锚定效应对工人风险认知的影响。
2022年，对来自中国山西省的1418名煤矿工人进行了一项调查。调查工具评估了工人对不安全行为的风险认知、锚定效应、认知需求和安全知识。采用多变量线性回归模型分析这些变量之间的关联。
研究结果验证了所提出的锚定效应。具体而言，实验者提供的高风险锚点导致工人高估不安全行为风险，从而降低他们从事此类行为的倾向。相比之下，实验者提供的低风险锚点和事故伤害经历（自我产生的锚点）降低了工人的风险认知，增加了他们从事不安全行为的倾向。此外，工人的安全知识和认知需求显著影响锚定效应。
本研究通过将心理学中的锚定效应应用于风险认知研究，增强了对工作场所安全的研究。改善风险认知的建议包括实施危险警告、加强安全教育和提供培训。此外，管理人员应特别关注有事故伤害经历的工人，并及时纠正他们的事故侥幸心理，从而提高整体风险意识。
