Effects of trust and procedural fairness on public acceptance of siting a repository for high-level radioactive waste

This study examined the determinants of public acceptance of siting a repository for High-level radioactive waste (HLW), focusing on procedural fairness and trust. The study presumed that interactive effect of procedural fairness × trust on public acceptance exist. To examine the presumption, the study implemented a hypothetical scenario experiment that manipulated two factors: an opportunity of voice as an antecedent of procedural fairness and value similarity to the authority as a component of trust. Three-hundred seventeen people participated in the web-based experiment. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: procedural fairness (voice vs. no voice) × trust (similarity vs. no similarity) factorial design associated with acceptance of siting investigation for a repository of HLW. The experiment measured affective reaction to the siting, and evaluations of procedural fairness, trust, public acceptance in the decision-making process. Results indicated that affective reaction, procedural fairness, and trust determined public acceptance. Moreover, the interactive effect of procedural fairness × trust on public acceptance was found. A process analysis indicated that the effect of procedural fairness was strengthened when the trust on similarity was negative.