The diploma thesis deals with the perception of water quality and the risks associated with it in the Tianjin area. These are mainly water reservoirs, lakes, Hai river and its canals. First part of the thesis describes main problems related to water pollution in Tianjin. The second part reveals results of research. The research is based on the methodology of psychometric approaches to risk perception that was developed to answer questions related to risk and safety in the context of perception of the public. The psychometric questionnaire was based on questions related to word associations, quantitative judgements on water risk (scale of riskiness), water use, supplementary questions and demographic characteristics. In addition, several qualitative online interviews with city residents were conducted. The results of the research found significant differences in the perception of water quality among Chinese and foreigners - the Chinese rated the quality of water resources in Tianjin much more positively and were less afraid to use tap water for cooking and drinking than foreigners. In the question of risk assessment of individual items, it turned out that drinking river water is considered the most risky. Respondents also acknowledged a number of health problems related to use of water, of which the most common were hair and skin problems, stomach ache and diarrhoea. It also turned out that 55 percent of respondents consider environmental measures to protect water in Tianjin to be sufficient, but at the same time think that more should be done. The thesis contributes to understanding how Tianjin residents perceive the risks associated with water quality and puts them in the context of summarizing the real state of water resources in the area. In addition, it provides a basis for further research that will allow better communication of environmental risks.
Anotace v angličtině
The diploma thesis deals with the perception of water quality and the risks associated with it in the Tianjin area. These are mainly water reservoirs, lakes, Hai river and its canals. First part of the thesis describes main problems related to water pollution in Tianjin. The second part reveals results of research. The research is based on the methodology of psychometric approaches to risk perception that was developed to answer questions related to risk and safety in the context of perception of the public. The psychometric questionnaire was based on questions related to word associations, quantitative judgements on water risk (scale of riskiness), water use, supplementary questions and demographic characteristics. In addition, several qualitative online interviews with city residents were conducted. The results of the research found significant differences in the perception of water quality among Chinese and foreigners - the Chinese rated the quality of water resources in Tianjin much more positively and were less afraid to use tap water for cooking and drinking than foreigners. In the question of risk assessment of individual items, it turned out that drinking river water is considered the most risky. Respondents also acknowledged a number of health problems related to use of water, of which the most common were hair and skin problems, stomach ache and diarrhoea. It also turned out that 55 percent of respondents consider environmental measures to protect water in Tianjin to be sufficient, but at the same time think that more should be done. The thesis contributes to understanding how Tianjin residents perceive the risks associated with water quality and puts them in the context of summarizing the real state of water resources in the area. In addition, it provides a basis for further research that will allow better communication of environmental risks.
Klíčová slova
environmental problems, health problems, risk perception, Tianjin, water pollution
Klíčová slova v angličtině
environmental problems, health problems, risk perception, Tianjin, water pollution
Rozsah průvodní práce
109 s. (158 376 znakov)
Jazyk
AN
Anotace
The diploma thesis deals with the perception of water quality and the risks associated with it in the Tianjin area. These are mainly water reservoirs, lakes, Hai river and its canals. First part of the thesis describes main problems related to water pollution in Tianjin. The second part reveals results of research. The research is based on the methodology of psychometric approaches to risk perception that was developed to answer questions related to risk and safety in the context of perception of the public. The psychometric questionnaire was based on questions related to word associations, quantitative judgements on water risk (scale of riskiness), water use, supplementary questions and demographic characteristics. In addition, several qualitative online interviews with city residents were conducted. The results of the research found significant differences in the perception of water quality among Chinese and foreigners - the Chinese rated the quality of water resources in Tianjin much more positively and were less afraid to use tap water for cooking and drinking than foreigners. In the question of risk assessment of individual items, it turned out that drinking river water is considered the most risky. Respondents also acknowledged a number of health problems related to use of water, of which the most common were hair and skin problems, stomach ache and diarrhoea. It also turned out that 55 percent of respondents consider environmental measures to protect water in Tianjin to be sufficient, but at the same time think that more should be done. The thesis contributes to understanding how Tianjin residents perceive the risks associated with water quality and puts them in the context of summarizing the real state of water resources in the area. In addition, it provides a basis for further research that will allow better communication of environmental risks.
Anotace v angličtině
The diploma thesis deals with the perception of water quality and the risks associated with it in the Tianjin area. These are mainly water reservoirs, lakes, Hai river and its canals. First part of the thesis describes main problems related to water pollution in Tianjin. The second part reveals results of research. The research is based on the methodology of psychometric approaches to risk perception that was developed to answer questions related to risk and safety in the context of perception of the public. The psychometric questionnaire was based on questions related to word associations, quantitative judgements on water risk (scale of riskiness), water use, supplementary questions and demographic characteristics. In addition, several qualitative online interviews with city residents were conducted. The results of the research found significant differences in the perception of water quality among Chinese and foreigners - the Chinese rated the quality of water resources in Tianjin much more positively and were less afraid to use tap water for cooking and drinking than foreigners. In the question of risk assessment of individual items, it turned out that drinking river water is considered the most risky. Respondents also acknowledged a number of health problems related to use of water, of which the most common were hair and skin problems, stomach ache and diarrhoea. It also turned out that 55 percent of respondents consider environmental measures to protect water in Tianjin to be sufficient, but at the same time think that more should be done. The thesis contributes to understanding how Tianjin residents perceive the risks associated with water quality and puts them in the context of summarizing the real state of water resources in the area. In addition, it provides a basis for further research that will allow better communication of environmental risks.
Klíčová slova
environmental problems, health problems, risk perception, Tianjin, water pollution
Klíčová slova v angličtině
environmental problems, health problems, risk perception, Tianjin, water pollution
Zásady pro vypracování
The diploma thesis deals with the perception of water quality and the risks associated with it in the Tianjin area. These are mainly water reservoirs, Hai river and its canals. This research is important because it helps to understand how people view the quality of water and the environment and whether they do not underestimate or overestimate safety risks associated with the quality of water. This information is important and may be used in education and helps to eliminate negative consequences using of unsuitable water. This research could help to reveal attitudes of people to environmental policy and their trust to the government. Tianjin area has been chosen because one research shows that the environmental policy has diverse effect (Tan et al., 2015). From this reason it would be interesting to obtain more data from this area that will contribute to the existing literature. This research can be extended in the future and other Chinese regions can be investigated and results can be compared.
The research will be based on the methodology of psychometric approaches to risk perception. This methodology was developed in by Fischhoff et al. (1978) who aimed to answer questions related to risk and safety in the context of perception of the public. This research follows psychometric method by Slovic et al. (2007). Several qualitative online interviews with city residents will be conducted and a psychometric online questionnaire will be created. The questionnaire will be based on questions related to word associations, quantitative judgements on water risk (scale of riskiness), water use, supplementary questions and demographic characteristics.
The main research question of the diploma thesis is defined as follows:
1. How do people in Tianjin area perceive water pollution and the risks associated with it?
The main research question is related to other secondary questions:
1.1 How do the Tianjin residents evaluate the quality of water?
1.2 What risks related to water quality do Tianjin residents consider to be the most serious?
1.3 How do Tianjin residents perceive and trust environmental policies?
1.4 What are the feelings of Tianjin residents regarding water pollution? Are there any symptoms of eco-anxiety?
Zásady pro vypracování
The diploma thesis deals with the perception of water quality and the risks associated with it in the Tianjin area. These are mainly water reservoirs, Hai river and its canals. This research is important because it helps to understand how people view the quality of water and the environment and whether they do not underestimate or overestimate safety risks associated with the quality of water. This information is important and may be used in education and helps to eliminate negative consequences using of unsuitable water. This research could help to reveal attitudes of people to environmental policy and their trust to the government. Tianjin area has been chosen because one research shows that the environmental policy has diverse effect (Tan et al., 2015). From this reason it would be interesting to obtain more data from this area that will contribute to the existing literature. This research can be extended in the future and other Chinese regions can be investigated and results can be compared.
The research will be based on the methodology of psychometric approaches to risk perception. This methodology was developed in by Fischhoff et al. (1978) who aimed to answer questions related to risk and safety in the context of perception of the public. This research follows psychometric method by Slovic et al. (2007). Several qualitative online interviews with city residents will be conducted and a psychometric online questionnaire will be created. The questionnaire will be based on questions related to word associations, quantitative judgements on water risk (scale of riskiness), water use, supplementary questions and demographic characteristics.
The main research question of the diploma thesis is defined as follows:
1. How do people in Tianjin area perceive water pollution and the risks associated with it?
The main research question is related to other secondary questions:
1.1 How do the Tianjin residents evaluate the quality of water?
1.2 What risks related to water quality do Tianjin residents consider to be the most serious?
1.3 How do Tianjin residents perceive and trust environmental policies?
1.4 What are the feelings of Tianjin residents regarding water pollution? Are there any symptoms of eco-anxiety?
Seznam doporučené literatury
Albrecht, G. (2011). Chronic environmental change: Emerging “psychoterratic” syndromes. In: I. Weissbecker(Ed). Climate Change and Human Well-being (pp. 43–56).New York: Springer.
Fischhoff, B., Slovic, P., Lichtenstein, S., Read, S., Combs, B. (1978). A psychometric study of attitudes towards technological risks and benefits. Policy Science, 9(2), 127-152.
Liu, S.-S., Chen, S.-Y., Yao, M., Zhang, Q.-H., Wu, J.-J. (2014). Water quality of Tuanpowa reservoir and Qilihai marshes in Tianjin area. Wetland Science, 12(2), 257–262.
Slovic, P., Peters, E., Grana, J., Berger, S., Dieck, G., S. (2007). Risk perception of prescription drugs: Results of national survey. Drug Information Journal, 41(1), 81-100.
Tan, H., Luo, J., Orderud, G. I., Zheng, Y., Pan, J. (2015). ThePollutionCaused by Protection: TheUnintendedConsequencesoftheLocalGovernanceofthe Urban DrinkingWater Source Protection in Tianjin, China. ChineseJournalof Urban and EnvironmentalStudies, 3(3): 1550025.
Usher, K., Durkin, J., Bhullar, N. (2019). Eco-anxiety: How thinking about climatechange-related environmental decline is affectingour mental health. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 28(6), 1233–1234
You, X., Zhang, C. On improvement of water quality of a reservoir by optimizing water Exchange. American Institute ofChemicalEngineersEnvironProg, 37, 399–409.
Seznam doporučené literatury
Albrecht, G. (2011). Chronic environmental change: Emerging “psychoterratic” syndromes. In: I. Weissbecker(Ed). Climate Change and Human Well-being (pp. 43–56).New York: Springer.
Fischhoff, B., Slovic, P., Lichtenstein, S., Read, S., Combs, B. (1978). A psychometric study of attitudes towards technological risks and benefits. Policy Science, 9(2), 127-152.
Liu, S.-S., Chen, S.-Y., Yao, M., Zhang, Q.-H., Wu, J.-J. (2014). Water quality of Tuanpowa reservoir and Qilihai marshes in Tianjin area. Wetland Science, 12(2), 257–262.
Slovic, P., Peters, E., Grana, J., Berger, S., Dieck, G., S. (2007). Risk perception of prescription drugs: Results of national survey. Drug Information Journal, 41(1), 81-100.
Tan, H., Luo, J., Orderud, G. I., Zheng, Y., Pan, J. (2015). ThePollutionCaused by Protection: TheUnintendedConsequencesoftheLocalGovernanceofthe Urban DrinkingWater Source Protection in Tianjin, China. ChineseJournalof Urban and EnvironmentalStudies, 3(3): 1550025.
Usher, K., Durkin, J., Bhullar, N. (2019). Eco-anxiety: How thinking about climatechange-related environmental decline is affectingour mental health. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 28(6), 1233–1234
You, X., Zhang, C. On improvement of water quality of a reservoir by optimizing water Exchange. American Institute ofChemicalEngineersEnvironProg, 37, 399–409.