Challenges to Expert Knowledge in Understanding and Managing Risk - Term Paper Example

School: Topic: Lecturer: presented: Introduction The contemporary society lives in a world where risk is inevitable especially due to cropping up of terror gangs like the Al-Qaida and Al Shabaab. Every day we live in uncertainty or probability of encountering accidents at home, industries, roads and other places or threats of other risks which are invisible as well as natural occurrences such as earthquakes. Diseases from poisonous substances in the environment are common place due to pollution and climate change is also a threat to human existence. People can be harmed in their daily activities and in different ways hence making management of risks very complex. Expert knowledge in understanding and managing risk is therefore required and essential in prevention of risk especially in known circumstances and also to reduce the negative consequences associated with risk. However, even expert knowledge can be contested in various ways thus adding to the uncertainty of risk. This report is aimed at examining the challenges to expert knowledge. To accomplish this, the report will consider three different areas: where expert knowledge is contradictory, use of lay knowledge in managing risk and the role of epidemiology in risk prevention. Risk is defined by Carter and Jordan (2009: 59) as “the state in which there is possibility of known danger or harm which if avoided may lead to benefits and particular and known outcome combined with consequences of the outcome.” It is an inherent danger in anything. It is also a probability or a situation of uncertainty that something might happen. Carter and Jordan regard risk as the central element of life in a risk society. For Tim Jordan, risk is “a combination of known and unknown outcomes and consideration of which allows for managed uncertainty” (A Risky World? 2009, track 3). Hinchliffe on the other hand, views risk as the balance between benefits and costs. This is especially so for economists who must consider costs and benefits of any project or activity before engaging in it so as not to suffer loss. In our daily activities, we encounter various risks hence we can say that risk is unavoidable though manageable if we are aware of it. Ulrich Beck in his social theory argues that we all live in a risky society (Beck 1992, cited in Carter & Jordan 2009: 81). Risk comes from various sources. In the past, risk was apparent in industries but due to rapid technological and scientific advancements and transformation to knowledge economy as well as globalization, risk in contemporary society is inherent everywhere. The same technology we use to advance our livelihoods and improve standards of living due to economic growth is the source of our woes. Instead of offering us protection, it instead causes us great harm through pollution and other processes. Everyone is therefore, trying to avoid danger and we all live in a situation of uncertainty; anything can happen any time. This is the sole reason why experts are required to research on risk issues and make the public aware of any danger as well as offer advice on how to avoid it. Expert knowledge in understanding and managing risk is thus critical in contemporary society. This expert knowledge is gained by studying a particular area, be it scientific or social sciences and other fields. In this situation, this knowledge is gained through scientific research hence the experts know more of any pending danger thus are best suited to advice the society appropriately (Carter & Jordan 2009). Risk management thus begins with understanding and finding out risky situations hence making them known then doing something to prevent or reduce its negative outcomes or costs. For example, experts carry out research on soil samples to determine if it is good for planting or habitation and inform the public appropriately or even research on different types of food to determine if they are fit for human consumption. Ordinary people without any knowledge of such chemicals and substances cannot be able to detect any threats hence have to rely on the power of experts. However, some risks are man-made and do not require expert knowledge to know they exist. For example, it is common knowledge that drunk driving or over speeding may cause an accident yet people still indulge in such behaviour. However, bearing in mind that expert knowledge comes from various fields and is created by scientists, there is bound to be conflicts. Different experts may have different opinions on a certain risky situation depending on the parameters they used in their research and the time the research was carried out (A risky World? 2009, track 3). As such, the report by different experts is contradictory leading to more questions than answers and consequently increasing uncertainty among people. It is not rare to find a scientific theory or report that has been discarded in favour of recent theories due to new knowledge or more advanced techniques. Besides, some experts may use their knowledge to minimise risks hence not giving the true account of things as evidenced by the soil testing for poison (A risky World? 2009, track 3). In this case, the expert knowledge may be challenged as it does not give a solution to our problems but creates more uncertainties. Another area in which expert knowledge may be challenged is whereby lay knowledge is used in place of expert knowledge. Even though people are given advice by experts concerning various types of risks and how to avoid them, lay people have different views concerning risks thus decide by themselves how to manage risk (Carter & Jordan 2009). People make use of their beliefs and emotions to deal with risks rather than expert knowledge but still they manage to prevent or avoid risk. A good example is the allotment case whereby the owner, Tim Jordan disagreed with experts that the soil was poisoned and stated his reason for not staying in the area as “we did not feel safe” (A risky World? 2009, track 3). Moreover, most people are guided by personal experiences in managing risk thus reinterpreting and challenging expert knowledge. The role of social sciences in understanding risk is crucial in this respect. Since risk management is about changing behaviour, these experts need to have knowledge in social sciences to better understand communities and help them deal with risk in the best way possible (Bromley et al. 2012). The last area of challenge to expert knowledge in risk management has to do with prevention paradox. This is whereby measures taken by public health to prevent risks especially of diseases and death offer large overall benefits to communities but little benefit to individuals (Carter & Jordan 2009: 83). For example, the public health ministry may carry out a polio immunization campaign hence give polio to large group of people while in real sense, only a few individuals are at risk of getting polio hence are the only ones who benefit from the immunization. In this case, there arises a controversy between medical knowledge and epidemiology (study of factors that contribute to illness and disease in populations). Epidemiology is concerned with public health hence disease prevention while doctors deal with individual patients hence try to treat diseases. While epidemiologists may claim that unhealthy eating is dangerous, doctors see no harm in this as eating unhealthy foods only affects particular individuals. Epidemiology according to Bromley et al (2009) is useful in social sciences as it involves mass behaviour. Social sciences like economics also do help in assessing, minimising and managing risk thus reducing overreliance on expert knowledge which is often contested. References A risky world? (2009) Exploring social lives[Audio CD 1], Milton Keynes, The Open University. Bromley, S., Jeffries, E., Meegan, J & Staples, M (2012) ‘Learning companion 3’ introducing social sciences, Milton Keynes, The Open University. Carter S and Jordan T (2009). ‘Living with risk and risky living’ in Bromley, S., Clarke, J., Hinchliffe, S & Taylor, S (eds). Exploring social lives, Milton Keynes, The Open University. Read More