Through its research into risk and safety perceptions, RIVM contributes to finding solutions to environmental and safety issues. After all, the way in which people perceive the risks and safety in their living environment influences their health, behaviour and support for policy. The perception of safety is therefore just as important for safety as the risks calculated by scientists.

More about perception and behaviour

Want to know more about our research possibilities?
Please send an email to onderzoekperceptieengedrag@rivm.nl

Who is it for?

We support society by providing advice on risk and safety perceptions, based on scientific insights, to the government (central government, provinces and municipalities), professionals and citizens. To this end, we also share our knowledge. 

What can RIVM do?

RIVM can use perception research to provide insight into the ideas, opinions, judgements and feelings of different groups of people in relation to an environmental or safety theme in their living environment. In this context, we often opt for a combination of qualitative and quantitative research. 

Our qualitative research focuses on exploring, describing and explaining. We usually start by identifying the existing knowledge through a literature review. Once we have completed this, we interview a limited number of representatives from the different groups or use focus groups.

Our quantitative research focuses on how often ideas, opinions, judgements and feelings occur and how they relate to one another. To this end, we usually carry out an online questionnaire among a large group of people who are representative of the different groups. By repeating questionnaires at different points in time, we can also study changes in perception. We also use the RIVM Beleving App (RIVM Perception App) for this, which participants can use to indicate how they experience their own environment at specific moments. Download ‘Beleving App’ in the App Store or Play Store.

What are the potential benefits of research into risk and safety perception?

The outcomes of perception research provide insight into the concerns, questions and expectations of the different groups. It also gives citizens the opportunity to put forward other knowledge, perspectives or possible solutions. These can be useful starting points for communication. Additionally, these insights may make it possible to better align policy choices with existing perceptions. This should increase support and make policy choices more effective, more sustainable and easier to implement.

Highlighted: perception research on water pollution in Perkpolder

Since 2015, there has been a sea dike in Perkpolder (Zeelandic Flanders) that has been filled with thermally remediated soil. Following its construction, the dike proved to contain contaminants that are seeping into ground and surface water. Residents were very concerned about the associated effects on health and the environment. 

RIVM has examined the perceptions, concerns and communication needs of local residents. It also examined the residents’ preferred solutions. To this end, we talked to residents, farmers, entrepreneurs and the local government. One of the outcomes was that residents and farmers felt their concerns were not being taken seriously. They also had little confidence in the approach taken. This negative experience appeared to be related to dissatisfaction with other municipal plans and PFAS (per- and polyfluoralkyl substances) contamination in the area. 

RIVM’s recommendations included providing better explanations of what we do and do not know about the contamination and about how the proposed solutions will work. It also pointed out the importance of acknowledging that things went wrong in the dike’s construction and providing insight into how this happened and which parties were involved. For more information, go to View on the sea dike. Perception study of the sea dike in Perkpolder | RIVM (2022).