Abstract
The objective of the thesis is to show that the application of Dramaturgical Analysis to risk communication offers a strong conceptual framework for researching real life situations which, in turn, provides new insights into how organisations should communicate about the risks associated with the introduction of new technology. The research demonstrates how people’s engagement with risk is influenced by events and interactions, and highlights the normative nature of this influence. The research also produces more general insights into the way institutions interact with each other and with the public, including the phenomena of ‘filtering’ and ‘triggering’ and the role of trust. It concludes with recommendations for more effective interaction between the institutions and publics involved.