Why do Workers Generate Biased Risk Perceptions? An Analysis
of Anchoring Effects and Influential Factors in Workers’ Assessment
of Unsafe Behavior
Dublin Core
Title
Why do Workers Generate Biased Risk Perceptions? An Analysis
of Anchoring Effects and Influential Factors in Workers’ Assessment
of Unsafe Behavior
of Anchoring Effects and Influential Factors in Workers’ Assessment
of Unsafe Behavior
Subject
Accident-injury experiences
Anchoring effects
Risk perception
Unsafe behavior
Workplace safety
Anchoring effects
Risk perception
Unsafe behavior
Workplace safety
Description
Risk perception plays a crucial role in workers’ unsafe behaviors. However, little research
has explored why workers generate biased risk perceptions, namely underestimating or overestimating
the risks of unsafe actions. Cognitive biases in risk perception arise from uncertainties about the dangers
of unsafe behaviors. As a typical heuristic strategy, the anchoring effect is critical in decision-making
under uncertain conditions. Consequently, this study empirically analyzed the influence of anchoring
effects on workers’ risk perception.
Methods: In 2022, a survey was conducted with 1,418 coal mine workers from Shanxi Province, China.
The survey instruments assessed workers’ risk perception of unsafe behavior, anchoring effects, need for
cognition, and safety knowledge. Multivariable linear regression models were employed to analyze the
associations among these variables.
Results: The findings verified the proposed anchoring effects. Specifically, experimenter-provided highrisk anchors led workers to overestimate unsafe behavior risks, thus reducing their tendency to engage in
such behavior. In contrast, experimenter-provided low-risk anchors and accident-injury experiences
(self-generated anchors) decreased workers’ risk perception, increasing their propensity to engage in
unsafe behavior. Additionally, workers’ safety knowledge and need for cognition significantly affected
anchoring effects.
Conclusion: This research enhances workplace safety studies by applying the anchoring effect from
psychology to risk perception research. Suggestions for improving risk perception encompass implementing hazard warnings, fostering safety education, and providing training. Furthermore, managers
should give special attention to workers with accident-injury experience and promptly correct their
accident fluke mentality, thereby improving overall risk awareness
has explored why workers generate biased risk perceptions, namely underestimating or overestimating
the risks of unsafe actions. Cognitive biases in risk perception arise from uncertainties about the dangers
of unsafe behaviors. As a typical heuristic strategy, the anchoring effect is critical in decision-making
under uncertain conditions. Consequently, this study empirically analyzed the influence of anchoring
effects on workers’ risk perception.
Methods: In 2022, a survey was conducted with 1,418 coal mine workers from Shanxi Province, China.
The survey instruments assessed workers’ risk perception of unsafe behavior, anchoring effects, need for
cognition, and safety knowledge. Multivariable linear regression models were employed to analyze the
associations among these variables.
Results: The findings verified the proposed anchoring effects. Specifically, experimenter-provided highrisk anchors led workers to overestimate unsafe behavior risks, thus reducing their tendency to engage in
such behavior. In contrast, experimenter-provided low-risk anchors and accident-injury experiences
(self-generated anchors) decreased workers’ risk perception, increasing their propensity to engage in
unsafe behavior. Additionally, workers’ safety knowledge and need for cognition significantly affected
anchoring effects.
Conclusion: This research enhances workplace safety studies by applying the anchoring effect from
psychology to risk perception research. Suggestions for improving risk perception encompass implementing hazard warnings, fostering safety education, and providing training. Furthermore, managers
should give special attention to workers with accident-injury experience and promptly correct their
accident fluke mentality, thereby improving overall risk awareness
Creator
Zunxiang Qiu 1
, Quanlong Liu 1,2,*, Xinchun Li 1,2
, Yueqian Zhang 1
, Quanlong Liu 1,2,*, Xinchun Li 1,2
, Yueqian Zhang 1
Source
https://pdf.sciencedirectassets.com/287282/1-s2.0-S2093791124X00049/1-s2.0-S2093791124000362/main.pdf?X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEFIaCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJIMEYCIQCTixa7ekObbbfWGhGjbm%2F9CLdlutgwEo9HyRsrEKYNZwIhAPf%2BhUxBKJ6FjHiiOn%2B2TL8%2F1GwZsU2%2BJGtSGLilnMuZKrMFCBoQBRoMMDU5MDAzNTQ2ODY1IgxoJrOykQYFhyt4hb0qkAVjIoveYhJvGxUfMeKXJpozw8R6Qkyd2CD8lqUkCo2VX9J1Tlop%2BzqDD9irij9NzS2aMiNnxSWcNTn2SdKiJI5NSVis%2BqRyPzvvtuNFnbPA3eB7iTQhKRS8H%2BGFiFPg16XHj4S4XBveM0otS9cIBOGPgpzpCt%2FrI%2F%2BJAtogX418gRupDYczcIzciADYlgDK3IngXsaJXboN%2BFrjnBlVie1ax0zD9bWVyqSCoPP8DDU7E%2BKe9ijOj3QZ6OMa%2FqIkK5dzO5i4zRtZNoqcH4d4V3iHZ7yBNFp48Mzj1LCyaaq2g9%2FvpbmT27HpA2pM8XpNmltDtC%2FjJn1L80b0xB5fkSCA4cTJw7duCciZ%2FQXxjPTW7cjVHlMcJB8vNdmtIJIgLlWLIA5C1ultvSzoQNN5PlHTHh8ocEnbmvtL5PvUbFgMLW0JpF76LEXKcr9YbBddfYTTCfDiRpEsG93LWEBiXtj1NVJspNNyKocdRGjMyH2BVLvs%2F%2FSfmILhIxOnV%2FeHisOBvQJP7AV1M1OaxeMoqhKT%2FMlBnlfLuBrwKujO8%2BmOWAbQopXO%2FF07e1LcM28jzP2yubsB%2Bzh6SAmX73%2BdlaF0N7gf1h7puWoIVsKuMjFF%2B1%2FwcCmg5Fdaa6Yla1REEoon607whEhyX5Q%2BujdO0PaPy2QbCVQP7uoZiNxqfqclhY19%2Fs3o2tTNq8yoHMi32YhNpgrPICvGRg5alnC%2F0rLJXrNwoYs5WkwDtpPQ%2FTJrE2vTJwyLgSrXyn7LvOPjmf8HN%2FrCNLlvqUn4Kpgm%2FJ1epsUTCUEy%2B0yITA%2FIIVnb0Cfr7hrVnUV0xsKIfqr83mvro%2F5KIXKaOpxisPV9SPQQTxhMHMQ9Ci3sXS0WzwvFlTCluf7MBjqwAVuNxgiuo5iyjgCXlGua51BWnwDjI78rcZX4RKNh17KoXmc%2BUkqiL2JY4a2Y88Dw57%2BguEXi6%2BeFKVnZ79N4pM1qz0g1r6fAS7VJ6ZyZuFtOgB%2BZOF%2BNZlrt29OOs2weAl2NwPtnHRsvNuudke1d3WHY4mGVy%2B0FL09MgwuWa8uMjZ6hpGdi%2FB2hN7B%2BAT4S9c7tt9fXtQlPD%2BQBQjdFUwcFrnPMYy12o%2FGo6y441juS&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Date=20260226T021204Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAQ3PHCVTY5AIGGWAK%2F20260226%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Signature=4328c3c0a8e3cfe056abcf4ae2433bc0dfe319be13bb17b6b07c90a3d94e7fdb&hash=9298f3c6d9c1ed831185a8767210534f8160c2304d28ddadd9f714e075c77257&host=68042c943591013ac2b2430a89b270f6af2c76d8dfd086a07176afe7c76c2c61&pii=S2093791124000362&tid=spdf-03a65a97-95ad-4f85-a50f-3abd5035ecdf&sid=830681cc5d60f646526bf61913cd5206d1e8gxrqb&type=client&tsoh=d3d3LnNjaWVuY2VkaXJlY3QuY29t&rh=d3d3LnNjaWVuY2VkaXJlY3QuY29t&ua=0b015e065400040655&rr=9d3bea5968182c28&cc=id
Publisher
School of Economics and Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China
2 Key Construction Bases of Philosophy and Social Sciences in Jiangsu Universities (Safety Management Research Center), China University of Mining and
Technology, Xuzhou, China
2 Key Construction Bases of Philosophy and Social Sciences in Jiangsu Universities (Safety Management Research Center), China University of Mining and
Technology, Xuzhou, China
Date
28 May 2024
Contributor
FAJAR BAGUS W
Format
PDF
Language
ENGLISH
Type
TEXT
Files
Citation
Zunxiang Qiu 1
, Quanlong Liu 1,2,*, Xinchun Li 1,2
, Yueqian Zhang 1
, “Why do Workers Generate Biased Risk Perceptions? An Analysis
of Anchoring Effects and Influential Factors in Workers’ Assessment
of Unsafe Behavior,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 11, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/11771.
of Anchoring Effects and Influential Factors in Workers’ Assessment
of Unsafe Behavior,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 11, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/11771.