Geoengineering and Climate Change Polarization: Testing a Two-channel Model of Science Communication

Annals of American Academy of Political & Social Sci., 658, 193-222 (2015), doi: 10.1177/0002716214559002

41 Pages Posted: 9 Jan 2012 Last revised: 12 Feb 2015

See all articles by Dan M. Kahan

Dan M. Kahan

Yale Law School

Hank C. Jenkins-Smith

University of Oklahoma - Department of Political Science

Tor Tarantola

Yale Law School

Carol L Silva

University of Oklahoma - Main - Department of Political Science

Donald Braman

George Washington University - Law School; Justice Innovation Lab; DC Justice Lab

Date Written: January 9, 2012

Abstract

We conducted a two-nation study (United States, n = 1500; England, n = 1500) to test a novel theory of science communication. The cultural cognition thesis posits that individuals make extensive reliance on cultural meanings in forming perceptions of risk. The logic of the cultural cognition thesis suggests the potential value of a distinctive two-channel science communication strategy that combines information content (“Channel 1”) with cultural meanings (“Channel 2”) selected to promote open-minded assessment of information across diverse communities. In the study, scientific information content on climate change was held constant while the cultural meaning of that information was experimentally manipulated. Consistent with the study hypotheses, we found that making citizens aware of the potential contribution of geoengineering as a supplement to restriction of CO2 emissions helps to offset cultural polarization over the validity of climate-change science. We also tested the hypothesis, derived from competing models of science communication, that exposure to information on geoengineering would provoke discounting of climate-change risks generally. Contrary to this hypothesis, we found that subjects exposed to information about geoengineering were slightly more concerned about climate change risks than those assigned to a control condition.

Keywords: climate change, geoengineering, cultural cognition, risk perception

Suggested Citation

Kahan, Dan M. and Jenkins-Smith, Hank C. and Tarantola, Tor and Silva, Carol L and Braman, Donald, Geoengineering and Climate Change Polarization: Testing a Two-channel Model of Science Communication (January 9, 2012). Annals of American Academy of Political & Social Sci., 658, 193-222 (2015), doi: 10.1177/0002716214559002, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1981907 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1981907

Dan M. Kahan (Contact Author)

Yale Law School ( email )

P.O. Box 208215
New Haven, CT 06520-8215
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.culturalcognition.net/kahan

Hank C. Jenkins-Smith

University of Oklahoma - Department of Political Science ( email )

307 W Brooks
Norman, OK 73019
United States

Tor Tarantola

Yale Law School ( email )

127 Wall St
New Haven, CT 06520
United States

Carol L Silva

University of Oklahoma - Main - Department of Political Science ( email )

307 W Brooks
Norman, OK 73019
United States

Donald Braman

George Washington University - Law School ( email )

2000 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20052
United States
20250341329940572 (Phone)

Justice Innovation Lab ( email )

DC Justice Lab ( email )

1200 U St NW
Washington, DC 20009
20009 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://dcjusticelab.org

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