As the information society has arrived, without constraints from time and space, it is possible to acquire the vast amount of information easily. Information exchanges between individuals and individuals, individuals and groups, groups and groups have become than before. The discourse about risk objects, e.g., the nuclear power energy, has been created in cyberspace. Hence, it is important to understand how the factor in cyber space influences the attitude or attitude change that people have toward the nuclear power energy. However, there are very few studies about this issue.
The purpose of this study is to analyze the attitude change and its determinants. For this work, we measured how people changed their attitude toward nuclear power energy after received the negative information about it. Then, we set up such attitude change as dependent variable. As independent variables to have impact on such attitude change, we adopt the factor from paradigm (perceived benefit, perceived risk, safety knowledge, stigma, and trust) and cyber matrix paradigm (anonymity, trust in cyberspace, bandwagon disposition, motivation and efficacy).
By analyzing survey data from Internet users (n=1572), we expect following theoretical and practical implications. First, we show whether or not it is possible to change the attitude in cyber space. Second, we will provide which factors contribute to explaning about attitude change.