John Cook
description
Transcript of John Cook
![Page 1: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
The Importance of Consensus Information in Reducing the Biasing Influence of Worldview on Climate Change AttitudesJohn Cook
12 October 2013, Psychology for a Safe Climate
1. Global Change Institute, University of Queensland2. University of Western Australia3. University of Bristol
![Page 2: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Climate communication magic bullet
There is no such thing as a climate communication magic bullet: we need a range of messages for diverse audiences
Some bullets are more potent than others
Some targets are easier to hit than others
![Page 3: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
![Page 4: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
“Voters believe that there is no consensus about global warming in the scientific community. Should the public come to believe that the scientific issues are settled, their views about global warming will change accordingly. Therefore, you need to continue to make the lack of scientific certainty a primary issue in the debate.”FRANK LUNTZ
![Page 5: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
![Page 6: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
The importance of consensus
Ding et al 2011 found that people who believe scientists disagree on global warming are less likely to support climate policy
McCright et al 2013:“Climate change communicators should therefore identify opportunities and employ techniques to effectively counter the denial machine’s campaign of challenging the scientific consensus. Overcoming its success in generating belief that scientists do not agree about anthropogenic global warming seems to be crucial for increasing public support for emissions reduction policies.”
![Page 7: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Some bullets are more potent than others.
![Page 8: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
The “Consensus Gap”
![Page 9: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
![Page 10: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
![Page 11: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
![Page 12: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
![Page 13: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
![Page 14: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
![Page 15: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
![Page 16: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Attacks on Cook et al. (2013)
![Page 17: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Lewandowsky et al 2013• Significant, positive interaction between consensus and
worldview.
![Page 18: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Study on effect of consensus information
![Page 19: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
![Page 20: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
![Page 21: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Some targets are easier to hit than others.
![Page 22: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Consensus info on Australian sample
• Representative Australian sample (N=400)
• Positive (weaker) interaction between consensus and worldview
![Page 23: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Testing consensus info on USA sample
• Representative US sample (N=325)
• Significant, negative interaction between consensus and worldview.
![Page 24: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
![Page 25: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
![Page 26: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Conclusion
There is a significant gap between public perception of consensus and the 97% reality
We need to close the consensus gap to remove one roadblock to climate action
Presenting consensus information has a significant positive effect on acceptance of human-caused global warming
![Page 27: John Cook](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062811/56815f0b550346895dcdca12/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
John CookGlobal Change Institute, University of Queensland
University of Western Australia
Web: www.skepticalscience.com