Zhang, S; Bao, Z; Yu, X; Shi, X; Wang, B and Zhang, Y (2026) How safety knowledge impacts construction workers' risk perception: ERP study. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 152(1): 04025234, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
To further explore the neural mechanisms underlying the impact of safety knowledge on risk perception, a questionnaire survey and behavioral experiment were first carried out, collecting 401 valid questionnaires. Then, event-related potential (ERP) experiments focusing on two key stages of risk perception, i.e., hazard identification and risk judgment, were conducted. The results revealed that: (1) During hazard identification, subjects with low safety knowledge exhibited significantly higher N200 and N300 amplitudes. This suggests that they consumed more attentional resources and experienced stronger negative emotional responses. (2) During risk judgment, subjects with low safety knowledge exhibited lower P300 amplitude, compared to those with high safety knowledge, indicating weaker integration of risk information and allocated fewer cognitive resources to the task. (3) A model was developed to illustrate the impact of safety knowledge on risk perception. This study provides a theoretical foundation for developing more targeted and effective safety education and training programs.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | event-related potentials; hazard identification; risk judgment; risk perception; safety knowledge |
| Index terms: | questionnaire, program, integration, survey, experiment, risk perception, education and training, construction worker, judgment, hazard identification |
| Subjects: | software systems, organizational analysis, dispute resolution, data collection methods, financial risk, environmental hazards, professional education, practitioner |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Organizational Design, Research Practice, Cost Management, Roles and Professions, Legal Issues, Education, Sustainability |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
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