Public perceptions of health risks from polluted coastal bathing waters: Amixed methodological analysis using cultural theory

This article explores public perceptions of, and attitudes toward, possible health risks from polluted coastal bathing waters in the United Kingdom. C ultural theory is applied in the present analysis, using a mixed methodolog y of quantitative analysis from interviews and qualitative interpretation o f focus group discussions to provide insights into how different cultural s olidarities view a number of issues. These include risks to health; attitud es toward regulation; public consultation and information provision; and tr ust, blame, and accountability applied to different stakeholders in the bat hing-water-quality debate. The results show that individuals' standpoints c an be represented on a number of dimensions, consistent with cultural theor y, including perceptions of power and authority, beliefs in the efficacy of collective action, and acceptance or rejection of incremental change as op posed to radical solutions. The discussion focuses both on methodological a nd substantive issues related to the use of cultural theory as a research t ool, and on policy recommendations arising from this research.