Ge, Y; Cui, C; Zhang, C; Ke, Y and Liu, Y (2021) Testing a social-psychological model of public acceptance towards highway infrastructure projects: A case study from China. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 28(9), pp. 2772-2787. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: To test a social-psychological model of public acceptance of highway infrastructure projects in the Chinese architecture/engineering/construction industry. Design/methodology/approach: Through a comprehensive literature review, we established a social-psychological model of public acceptance related to benefit perception, risk perception and public trust. We empirically validated our model by using structural equation model analysis based on a questionnaire survey in the S35 Yongjin Highway Infrastructure Project in Yunnan Province, China. Findings: Benefit, trust and risk perception had a significant influence on local residents' public acceptance of highway infrastructure projects; benefit perception and trust perception had a greater influence than risk perception. Public acceptance among local male residents over the age of 35 or those with higher education levels was more likely to be determined by the relative dominance of risk and benefit perceived. Research limitations/implications: This study contributes empirical evidence to the theoretical literature related to locally unwanted land use (LULU) siting and stakeholders in the field of project management from the public perspective. This study also suggests valuable practical implications to authorities, project managers and the public in decision-making and risk communication. Originality/value: Although previous studies addressed factors affecting public acceptance towards potentially hazardous facilities, understanding of the implications of these social-psychological factors and their effects are still far from sufficient. This study bridges this gap by exploring the determinants of public acceptance towards highway infrastructure projects based on a selected case in China.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | benefit perception; highway infrastructure project; public acceptance; risk perception; social-psychological model; trust perception |
| Index terms: | evidence, questionnaire, methodology, decision-making, China, land use, survey, literature review, risk perception, structural equation model, project management, highway infrastructure, construction industry, testing, determinant, project manager, case study, higher education |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, evaluation and assessment methods, risk assessment, profession, real estate economics, professional practice, data analysis and analytics, research methods, civil engineering, Geography, project management theory and practice, decision analysis, educational institutions, industry analysis, environmental hazards, statistical analysis |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Risk Management, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Project Management, Geographical Context, Engineering Principles, Education, Urban Studies |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here