How the public engages in climate change: A social representations approach

Smith, N. and Joffe, H. 2013. How the public engages in climate change: A social representations approach. Public Understanding of Science. 22 (1), pp. 16-32. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963662512440913

TitleHow the public engages in climate change: A social representations approach
AuthorsSmith, N.
Joffe, H.
Abstract

The present study utilises social representations theory to explore common sense conceptualisations of global warming risk using an in-depth, qualitative methodology. Fifty-six members of a British, London-based 2008 public were initially asked to draw or write four spontaneous "first thoughts or feelings" about global warming. These were then explored via an open-ended, exploratory interview. The analysis revealed that first thoughts, either drawn or written, often mirrored the images used by the British press to depict global warming visually. Thus in terms of media framings, it was their visual rather than their textual content that was spontaneously available for their audiences. Furthermore, an in-depth exploration of interview data revealed that global warming was structured around three themata: self/other, natural/unnatural and certainty/uncertainty, reflecting the complex and often contradictory nature of common sense thinking in relation to risk issues.

JournalPublic Understanding of Science
Journal citation22 (1), pp. 16-32
ISSN0963-6625
Year2013
PublisherSage
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/0963662512440913
Publication dates
PublishedJan 2013

Related outputs

What do City Dwellers Want for Themselves and their Cities? Implications for Planning Liveable Cities
Joffe, H., Smith, N. and Zeeb, V. 2020. What do City Dwellers Want for Themselves and their Cities? Implications for Planning Liveable Cities. in: Boyko, C.T., Cooper, R. and Dunn, N. (ed.) Designing Future Cities for Wellbeing Routledge. pp. 11-27

Global Warming Risk Perceptions in India
Thaker, J., Smith, Nicholas and Leiserowitz, Anthony 2020. Global Warming Risk Perceptions in India. Risk analysis : an official publication of the Society for Risk Analysis. 40 (12), pp. 2481-2497. https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.13574

The Francis Effect? Investigating the Impact of Laudato Si’ on Catholic Climate Change Engagement
Smith, N. 2019. The Francis Effect? Investigating the Impact of Laudato Si’ on Catholic Climate Change Engagement. in: O'Hara, D., Eaton, M. and Ross, M.T. (ed.) Integral Ecology for a More Sustainable World: Dialogues with Laudato Si' Lexington Books.

Affective Imagery, Risk Perceptions, and Climate Change Communication
Leiserowitz, A. and Smith, N. 2017. Affective Imagery, Risk Perceptions, and Climate Change Communication. in: Oxford Encyclopaedia of Climate Science Oxford Oxford University Press.

Catholics and Climate Change Skepticism
Vincentnathan, L., Vincentnathan, S.G. and Smith, N. 2016. Catholics and Climate Change Skepticism. Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology. 20 (2), pp. 125-149. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685357-02002005

City dweller aspirations for cities of the future: How do environmental and personal wellbeing feature?
Joffe, H. and Smith, N. 2016. City dweller aspirations for cities of the future: How do environmental and personal wellbeing feature? Cities. 59, pp. 102-112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2016.06.006

Social Representations of Threatening Phenomena: The Self-Other Thema and Identity Protection
Smith, N., O'Connor, C. and Joffe, H. 2015. Social Representations of Threatening Phenomena: The Self-Other Thema and Identity Protection. Papers on Social Representations. 24 (2), pp. 1.1-1.23.

The Role of Emotion in Global Warming Policy Support and Opposition
Smith, N. and Leiserowitz, A. 2014. The Role of Emotion in Global Warming Policy Support and Opposition. Risk Analysis. 34 (5), p. 937–948. https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.12140

Climate change and visual imagery
O'Neill, S. and Smith, N. 2014. Climate change and visual imagery. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change. 5 (1), pp. 73-87. https://doi.org/10.1002/wcc.249

American evangelicals and global warming
Smith, N. and Leiserowitz, A. 2013. American evangelicals and global warming. Global Environmental Change. 23 (5), p. 1009–1017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2013.04.001

Climategate, Public Opinion, and the Loss of Trust
Leiserowitz, A., Maibach, E., Roser-Renouf, C., Smith, N. and Dawson, E. 2013. Climategate, Public Opinion, and the Loss of Trust. American Behavioral Scientist. 57 (6), pp. 818-837. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764212458272

The rise of global warming scepticism: exploring affective image associations over time
Smith, N. and Leiserowitz, A. 2012. The rise of global warming scepticism: exploring affective image associations over time. Risk Analysis. 32 (6), pp. 1021-1032. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.2012.01801.x

Climate change in the British press: The role of the visual
Smith, N. and Joffe, H. 2009. Climate change in the British press: The role of the visual. Journal of Risk Research. 12 (5), pp. 647-663. https://doi.org/10.1080/13669870802586512

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/9vq04/how-the-public-engages-in-climate-change-a-social-representations-approach


Share this

Usage statistics

207 total views
0 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.