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RESEARCH PRODUCT

The strange case of Pomar family: the dangers of roads

subject

description

Many studies conducted on risk-related issues use quantitative methods. Questionnaires or formal interviews are applied to subjects to construct some attitude or particular opinion about their sense of security. Since the risk-perception theory has been brought from cognitive psychology, there is a biased assumption to think this issue should use these survey types of techniques. In contrast, this article proposes that risk as social construal should be studied according to qualitative analyses that explore the connection between variables. That women perceive more risks than men can be a of second-order explanation, appropriate for opinion polls or managerial policies, but not scientific analysis. Risk should be studied using qualitative paradigms and with new approaches that allow expanding the existing understanding not only in its functioning but the connection with economy and social order. Based on the visual examination of 20 TV programmes and ten newspapers, this research focuses on the coverage of the media of Pomar’s tragedy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This case exemplifies not only how risk works, but also how media demonise some actors when they have no explanation for the events.