Kause, A orcid.org/0000-0002-0121-2406, Townsend, T orcid.org/0000-0001-7459-9798 and Gaissmaier, W orcid.org/0000-0001-6273-178X (2019) Framing Climate Uncertainty: Frame Choices Reveal and Influence Climate Change Beliefs. Weather, Climate, and Society, 11 (1). pp. 199-215. ISSN 1948-8327
Abstract
The public debate around climate change is increasingly polarized. At the same time, the scientific consensus about the causes and consequences of climate change is strong. This inconsistency poses challenges for mitigation and adaptation efforts. The translation of uncertain numerical climate projections into simpler but ambiguous verbal frames may contribute to this polarization. In two experimental studies, we investigated 1) how “communicators” verbally frame a confidence interval regarding projected change in winter precipitation due to climate change (N = 512) and 2) how “listeners” interpret these verbal frames (N = 385). Both studies were preregistered at the Open Science Framework. Communicators who perceived the change as more severe chose a concerned rather than an unconcerned verbal frame. Furthermore, communicators’ verbal frames were associated with their more general beliefs, like political affiliation and environmental values. Listeners exposed to the concerned frame perceived climate change–induced precipitation change to be more severe than those receiving the unconcerned frame. These results are in line with two pilot studies (N = 298 and N = 393, respectively). Underlying general beliefs about climate and the environment likely shape public communication about climate in subtle ways, and thus verbal framing by the media, policymakers, and peers may contribute to public polarization on climate change.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2019 American Meteorological Society. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Weather, Climate, and Society. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Social Science; Climate change; Communications/decision making |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Business (Leeds) > Management Division (LUBS) (Leeds) > Management Division Decision Research (LUBS) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 04 Dec 2018 13:14 |
Last Modified: | 13 Dec 2024 15:20 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | American Meteorological Society |
Identification Number: | 10.1175/WCAS-D-18-0002.1 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:139473 |