Customer Perceptions of Agency Risk Communication.* Ann Fisher, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
Well before the President signed Executive Order 12862, USDA/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) had plans to learn more about how its stakeholders perceived the agency's risk assessment and risk communication activities. Originally intended as a companion to the 1992 survey of APHIS professionals (Risk Analysis, 14:2, 1994, 207-212), the draft was adapted for a broader audience and mailed to a sample of 2000 "customers." (By June, 1994, 65 percent had completed the survey.) Analysis of the data provides an overall assessment of how well APHIS communicates with its customers about the various risks for which the agency has management responsibility. Analysis also reveals how perceptions of APHIS risk communication varies across customer subgroups. Results suggest recommendations to improve understanding of agency risk management activities through more effective risk communication design, collaboration and follow-up.
*Work supported by Cooperative Agreement No. 12-34-01-0002-CA between USDA/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Pennsylvania State University.