The role of procedural justice and risk preference-based mechanisms in acceptance of public policy

The current study examines the relationship between procedural justice and acceptance of public policy, the mediating effect of uncertainty as well as the moderating effect of risk preference in this relationship. Study 1 conducted a questionnaire survey on 154 residents from Beijing. The results showed that risk preference moderated the effect of procedural justice on acceptance of public policy. Accordingly, Study 2 conducted a scenario experiment on 136 college students from Beijing to examine the mediating role of uncertainty, while retesting the moderating mechanism of risk preference in more detail. Results showed that risk preference significantly moderated the effect of procedural justice on acceptance of public policy. Specifically, uncertainty was more negatively associated with acceptance of public policy among the risk-averse individuals than risk-seeking individuals. Risk preference indirectly moderated the relationship between procedural justice and acceptance of public policy by moderating the relationship between uncertainty and acceptance of public policy.