Public Policy Center, University of Nebraska
Date of this Version
Fall 2014
Citation
Great Plains Research 24 (Fall 2014):153–168.
Abstract
Climate change has become an important yet politically divisive topic in recent years. Further complicating the issue are assertions that climate change– related public opinion surveys used by social scientists are biased or otherwise problematic. We conducted a pilot study to explore questions concerning bias and interpretation of climate change surveys. Our study sample was composed of adult residents of Nebraska (n = 115). We augmented our survey fi ndings with cognitive interviews of a subsample of respondents (n = 20). We assessed study participants’ attitudes about climate change, and perceptions of bias and interpretation of survey questions drawn from previously used survey instruments and national polls. Among our study sample, we found little support for perceived bias within the survey items employed. However, interview fi ndings indicated that particular survey language may have elicited unexpected associations among respondents. We discussed implications for further research.
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Civic and Community Engagement Commons, Community-based Research Commons, Environmental Education Commons, Environmental Policy Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Place and Environment Commons, Politics and Social Change Commons
Comments
Copyright © 2014 by the Center for Great Plains Studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln