Longitudinal assessment of attitudes toward a nuclear power plant

This study investigated attitudes, beliefs, and evaluations of beliefs over time of residents living in the host community for a nuclear power plant. Hypotheses were derived from the model of attitudes developed by Fishbein. A survey was conducted among residents of the town of Hartsville and Trousdale County, population 5,500, located in middle Tennessee. Residents (N = 217) who were interviewed in 1975 as part of an earlier survey were reinterviewed for this survey (1980). General attitude toward the plant was taken to mean the degree to which respondents would allow construction of the plant and also the proximity to their homes they would tolerate construction. Beliefs and evaluations of beliefs were assessed in reference to the perceived likelihood of 27 potential outcomes associated with the plant. The results showed that there had been a sizable negative change of attitude toward the plant. Positive outcomes such as economic growth were believed to be much less likely in 1980 than in 1975. Beliefs concerning the likelihood of negative outcomes such as crowding in schools and sabotage were mixed. Changes in evaluations of beliefs were smaller than changes in beliefs. The basic Fishbein model was a significant predictor of attitudes toward the plant in both 1975 and 1980 although better in 1975. Variations on the model using groups of outcomes as predictors outperformed the basic model but once again better in 1975. Three groups of outcomes, hazards, economic growth, and social disruption, were consistently the best predictors of attitude toward the plant. The findings were consistent with Fishbein's model and have implications for studies of the social impacts of large-scale public projects.