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The accuracy of German citizens’ confidence in their climate change knowledge

Author

Listed:
  • Helen Fischer

    (Heidelberg University
    Stockholm University)

  • Dorothee Amelung

    (Heidelberg University)

  • Nadia Said

    (Heidelberg University
    Heidelberg University)

Abstract

Accurate confidence—confidence that reflects the accuracy of knowledge—can be relevant for decision-making in areas of high uncertainty. Accuracy of confidence is of particular importance in the area of climate change where scientifically correct information exists alongside misinformation in the public discourse and media. Here we assess the accuracy of confidence in climate change knowledge in a national German sample (n = 509). The accuracy of the confidence of the citizens in their climate change knowledge was only around half of what it could be based on the accuracy of their knowledge. Moreover, the accuracy of confidence controlling for knowledge accuracy was lower for climate change than for two benchmark comparisons: general science knowledge in another national German sample (n = 588), and climate change knowledge in a scientist sample (n = 207). Although these results cannot necessarily be generalized to the population of all indicators of climate change knowledge, the results suggest that the confidence of citizens in their climate change knowledge is unnecessarily fuzzy given their actual knowledge.

Suggested Citation

  • Helen Fischer & Dorothee Amelung & Nadia Said, 2019. "The accuracy of German citizens’ confidence in their climate change knowledge," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 9(10), pages 776-780, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:9:y:2019:i:10:d:10.1038_s41558-019-0563-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-019-0563-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Sophie Beukelaer & Neza Vehar & Max Rollwage & Stephen M. Fleming & Manos Tsakiris, 2023. "Changing minds about climate change: a pervasive role for domain-general metacognition," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Xixiang Sun & Weihuan Su & Xiaodong Guo & Ziyuan Tian, 2021. "The Impact of Awe Induced by COVID-19 Pandemic on Green Consumption Behavior in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-14, January.
    3. Yongliang Yang & Yiyang Guo & Suqing Luo, 2020. "Consumers’ Intention and Cognition for Low-Carbon Behavior: A Case Study of Hangzhou in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-19, November.
    4. Dehghani Pour, Milad & Barati, Ali Akbar & Azadi, Hossein & Scheffran, Jürgen & Shirkhani, Mehdi, 2023. "Analyzing forest residents' perception and knowledge of forest ecosystem services to guide forest management and biodiversity conservation," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    5. Timmons, Shane & Lunn, Pete, 2022. "Public understanding of climate change and support for mitigation," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number RS135, June.

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