Dear Dr. Souma,

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Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

1. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Partly

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously? -->?>

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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3. Have the authors made all data underlying the findings in their manuscript fully available??>

The PLOS Data policy requires authors to make all data underlying the findings described in their manuscript fully available without restriction, with rare exception (please refer to the Data Availability Statement in the manuscript PDF file). The data should be provided as part of the manuscript or its supporting information, or deposited to a public repository. For example, in addition to summary statistics, the data points behind means, medians and variance measures should be available. If there are restrictions on publicly sharing data—e.g. participant privacy or use of data from a third party—those must be specified.requires authors to make all data underlying the findings described in their manuscript fully available without restriction, with rare exception (please refer to the Data Availability Statement in the manuscript PDF file). The data should be provided as part of the manuscript or its supporting information, or deposited to a public repository. For example, in addition to summary statistics, the data points behind means, medians and variance measures should be available. If there are restrictions on publicly sharing data—e.g. participant privacy or use of data from a third party—those must be specified.-->

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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4. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English??>

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Well written paper and very good description of the approach. Really useful for improving public decision-making in different domains.

Two points could be considered for additional discussion on the approach: 1) the discussion is focussed on final disposal while at the beginning the issue of reuse of soil is also mentioned. It should be useful to explain the focus of the study with regard to the broader issue. 2) As mentioned at the end in terms of limitation, the participants were "only" students. Although this is not representative of the citizens concerned with this issue, it could be interesting to highlight the usefulness to engage young generation in such a topic which has long-term challenges. In addition, the issue of solidarity between regions and accross generations could be discussed or mentioned.

More detailed comments: Fukushima is used sometimes in reference to the Prefecture, sometimes to the NPP, sometimes it is mentioned Fukuhsima Prefecture. An homogenisation of the term used would be helpful to understand where we are. On line 248, please change "limit" by "value". This is not a dose limit, but a radiological criteria.

Reviewer #2: The paper was written in standard English, but writing style could have been improved. Length of paper was much longer than what should be required to concisely present results of their study. Study design could also have been strengthened, assumptions and limitations more fully explored, and study would have benefited from some cross comparison to case studies that used competitive and collaborative approaches to decision-making, and/or a more fulsome discussion of how results compare to similar studies or approaches conducted by other scientists.

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what does this mean?). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.

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Reviewer #1: Yes: Thierry SCHNEIDERThierry SCHNEIDERThierry SCHNEIDERThierry SCHNEIDER

Reviewer #2: No

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Attachments

Attachment

Submitted filename: PLOS Review PONE-D-25-63386 2025Feb2.docx

Effects of controversial contexts on opinion changes through discussion and evaluation of decisions: A group decision experiment regarding the issue of removed soil in Fukushima

PONE-D-25-63386R1

Dear Dr. Souma,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

Within one week, you’ll receive an e-mail detailing the required amendments. When these have been addressed, you’ll receive a formal acceptance letter and your manuscript will be scheduled for publication.

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Kind regards,

Sakae Kinase, Ph.D.

Academic Editor

PLOS One

Additional Editor Comments (optional):

I have much pleasure in recommending this paper for publication. The manuscript has been substantially with changes according to reviewers' comments.

Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

Reviewer #1: All comments have been addressed

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2. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions??>

Reviewer #1: Yes

**********

3. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously? -->?>

Reviewer #1: Yes

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4. Have the authors made all data underlying the findings in their manuscript fully available??>

The PLOS Data policy requires authors to make all data underlying the findings described in their manuscript fully available without restriction, with rare exception (please refer to the Data Availability Statement in the manuscript PDF file). The data should be provided as part of the manuscript or its supporting information, or deposited to a public repository. For example, in addition to summary statistics, the data points behind means, medians and variance measures should be available. If there are restrictions on publicly sharing data—e.g. participant privacy or use of data from a third party—those must be specified.requires authors to make all data underlying the findings described in their manuscript fully available without restriction, with rare exception (please refer to the Data Availability Statement in the manuscript PDF file). The data should be provided as part of the manuscript or its supporting information, or deposited to a public repository. For example, in addition to summary statistics, the data points behind means, medians and variance measures should be available. If there are restrictions on publicly sharing data—e.g. participant privacy or use of data from a third party—those must be specified.-->

Reviewer #1: Yes

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5. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English??>

Reviewer #1: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Good reviesed paper. The authors have integrated the comments and the paper is now in a good format with clear explanation on the approach including a relevant discussion of the results.

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what does this mean?). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.

If you choose “no”, your identity will remain anonymous but your review may still be made public.

Do you want your identity to be public for this peer review? For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our Privacy Policy..-->

Reviewer #1: Yes: SCHNEIDER ThierrySCHNEIDER ThierrySCHNEIDER ThierrySCHNEIDER Thierry

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