Do partisanship and politicization undermine the impact of a scientific consensus message about climate change?. (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bolsen, Toby; Druckman, James N.
• Other Names: Pearson Adam R. guest-editor.; Schuldt Jonathon P. guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Group processes and intergroup relations. Volume 21:Number 3(2018)
• Page Start: 389
• Page End: 402
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: climate change -- motivated reasoning -- politicization -- scientific consensus; Intergroup relations -- Periodicals; Social groups -- Periodicals; 302.305
• DOI: 10.1177/1368430217737855
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-4302

Abstract

Scientists are in near-universal agreement that human activity is a primary cause of climate change. Yet, despite this scientific consensus, the American public remains divided when it comes to beliefs about human-induced climate change. We investigate the role of partisan group identity and the politicization of science in undermining the impact of a scientific consensus message about human-induced climate change. We do so with a survey experiment administered on a nationally representative sample, finding that partisan identity—and especially politicization—can stunt the effect of a scientific consensus statement about climate change. We conclude with a discussion about how scientists, as a group, might work with partisans to more effectively communicate scientific information.