title: Trust and perception related to information about biofuels in Belgium.
abstract: Public knowledge regarding green energy is limited and there is a perceived lack of information, particularly in the case of biofuels. This study investigates the information seeking behaviour of fuel consumers with regard to biofuels, their preferences for particular elements and channels of information and their trust in information sources. The majority of respondents were interested in many elements of information, and particularly in the tax (dis)advantages associated with biofuels. They prefer to obtain information via newspapers and brochures. Scientists, environmental and consumer organizations and the government are perceived as the most trustworthy sources of information whilst word of mouth sources, journalists and the fuel sector are less well trusted. Four consumer clusters could be distinguished, on the basis of the perceived relative trustworthiness of information sources, and these clusters have significantly different socio-demographic characteristics and preferences for elements and channels of information.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Economics at Ghent University, Belgium. Liesbeth.vandevelde@Ugent.be
authors.forename: Liesbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van de Velde
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Verbeke
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Popp
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Huylenbroeck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium; D056804:Biofuels; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011639:Public Opinion; D035502:Trust
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels