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Confidence in Local, National, and International Scientists on Climate Change

Author

Listed:
  • Aaron C. Sparks

    (Department of Political Science and Policy Studies, Elon University, Elon, NC 27244, USA)

  • Heather Hodges

    (Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA)

  • Sarah Oliver

    (Department of Political Science, Towson University, Towson, MD 21252, USA)

  • Eric R. A. N. Smith

    (Department of Political Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA)

Abstract

In many public policy areas, such as climate change, news media reports about scientific research play an important role. In presenting their research, scientists are providing guidance to the public regarding public policy choices. How do people decide which scientists and scientific claims to believe? This is a question we address by drawing on the psychology of persuasion. We propose the hypothesis that people are more likely to believe local scientists than national or international scientists. We test this hypothesis with an experiment embedded in a national Internet survey. Our experiment yielded null findings, showing that people do not discount or ignore research findings on climate change if they come from Europe instead of Washington-based scientists or a leading university in a respondent’s home state. This reinforces evidence that climate change beliefs are relatively stable, based on party affiliation, and not malleable based on the source of the scientific report.

Suggested Citation

  • Aaron C. Sparks & Heather Hodges & Sarah Oliver & Eric R. A. N. Smith, 2020. "Confidence in Local, National, and International Scientists on Climate Change," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2020:i:1:p:272-:d:470542
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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