They took the view that as long as you were careful and abided by the safety instructions and methodology nothing too bad could happen. That having been said, most respondents were aware that not all their classmates behaved so responsibly. The real risk in science lessons was seen to derive not from the experiments themselves but from the stupid behaviour of a minority who pay little adherence to basic, common sense, safety measures. Attitudes towards the risks involved in science in the 'real world' reflected their rational view that risk can be reduced by the strict implementation of safety standards. Although potentially very dangerous, it was generally felt that, in this country at least, science is so tightly controlled that it is probably safer than other activities where there may be a tendency towards complacency.
Some risk is of course inevitable.
R12.9 The above seems very rational and sensible. However, in reality it was recognised that people are not always like this, and that risk awareness, assessment and response are influenced by a myriad of factors, many of which are subjective and operate at an emotional rather than a rational level. Perception is everything. It was felt that major news stories highlighting a particular danger can generate a response out of all proportion to the risk involved. They work at an emotional level, shocking people out of complacency and playing on inner fears.