Testing public (un)certainty of science: Media representations of global warming

• Main Authors: Julia B Corbett, Jessica L Durfee, Roger D Gunn, K Maja Krakowjak, Contact: Jeffrey T Nellermoe, Associate Professor Julia B Corbett
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2004
• Subjects: Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1051.866; http://site.iugaza.edu.ps/tissa/files/2010/02/Testing_Public_%28Un%29Certainty_of_Science.pdf

Abstract Although numerous studies have documented the mass media's role as an important source of scientific information for the public, research is lacking that tests whether readers' assessments of scientific findings depend on the way reporters construct news stories. An experimental design tested whether adding controversy and/or context to a news story about global warming influenced readers' perceptions of its certainty. A baseline story ("control") reported a recent scientific finding of thickening ice in Antarctica, which by it might imply that global warming is uncertain. The "controversy" treatment included a paragraph about scientists disputing the finding. The "context" treatment said previous research had found both thickening and thinning ice but the balance of evidence supported global warming. The fourth treatment included "controversy" and "context." Respondents (N=209) were randomly assigned to read one treatment and answer a questionnaire. Overall, there was a significant difference in readers' assessment of the certainty of global warming across treatments (F=12.59, p=. 00). The "context" treatment produced the highest level of certainty about global warming and differed significantly from "control" (the lowest level of certainty) and "controversy" (the next lowest level of certainty). Combining "controversy and context" had a moderating effect. There was an interaction effect between treatment and environmental ideology upon certainty (F=1.64, p=. 03) and a correlation between environmental ideology and prior certainty about global warming (.35, p=. 01), suggesting that those with stronger environmental sensibilities were less swayed by the treatments. uncertainty and media, p. 2