Uehara, M. S. (2018). Individual risk perception and flood mitigation: an empirical study of protective actions in Australia. 

summary by Perplexity:

Here is a summary of the key points from the provided file:

Risk Perception and Decision Making

• This thesis applies Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) to understand how Australian households decide to take protective actions against flood risks.

• PMT explores the relationships between threat appraisal, coping appraisal, vulnerability factors, and decisions to take protective actions.

• This is the first study to apply PMT in the Australian context, providing novel insights for policymakers.

• Shared Responsibility

• The concept of shared responsibility expects individuals to take action to reduce residual risks from major hazards like floods.

• However, policymakers need to better understand the complexity of household decision-making processes.

• Conditions like perceived risks, capacity to act, and vulnerability factors affect decisions, as do circumstances like exposure levels, threat nature, and protective action type.

• Case Study and Method

• The study focuses on households in Brisbane affected by major floods like 1974 and 2011.

• It uses regression analysis to model factors influencing protective actions like home improvements, house raising, insurance, and relocation.

• Qualitative data provides nuances on significant associations.

• Key Findings

• In the Australian context, an individual's capacity may not be the main predictor of taking protective actions, contrary to findings elsewhere.

• Conditions (perceived risks, capacity, vulnerability) and circumstances (exposure, threat, action type) significantly influence household decisions under uncertainty.

• Demographic and socioeconomic factors like location, tenure, and education also play a role.

In summary, this thesis provides novel insights into how Australian households perceive flood risks and decide on protective actions, highlighting the importance of understanding specific conditions and circumstances beyond just individual capacity.