An attack on science? Media use, trust in scientists, and perceptions of global warming

There is a growing divide in how conservatives and liberals in the USA understand the issue of global warming. Prior research suggests that the American public’s reliance on partisan media contributes to this gap. However, researchers have yet to identify intervening variables to explain the relatio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Public understanding of science (Bristol, England) England), 2014-10, Vol.23 (7), p.866-883
Main Authors: Hmielowski, Jay D., Feldman, Lauren, Myers, Teresa A., Leiserowitz, Anthony, Maibach, Edward
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Female
Global Warming
History of medicine and histology
Humans
Male
Mass Media
Middle Aged
News media
Perceptions
Politics
Public Opinion
Science
Scientists
Surveys and Questionnaires
Trust
United States
Young Adult
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Summary:There is a growing divide in how conservatives and liberals in the USA understand the issue of global warming. Prior research suggests that the American public’s reliance on partisan media contributes to this gap. However, researchers have yet to identify intervening variables to explain the relationship between media use and public opinion about global warming. Several studies have shown that trust in scientists is an important heuristic many people use when reporting their opinions on science-related topics. Using within-subject panel data from a nationally representative sample of Americans, this study finds that trust in scientists mediates the effect of news media use on perceptions of global warming. Results demonstrate that conservative media use decreases trust in scientists which, in turn, decreases certainty that global warming is happening. By contrast, use of non-conservative media increases trust in scientists, which, in turn, increases certainty that global warming is happening.
ISSN:0963-6625
1361-6609
DOI:10.1177/0963662513480091