Natural Vs. Social Scientists' Perceptions of Uncertainty in Discussions of Global Climate Change

Natural Vs. Social Scientists' Perceptions of Uncertainty in Discussions of Global Climate Change
Author: Samantha Jude Romanello
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2003
Genre: Global warming
ISBN:

Abstract: This dissertation examines scientific uncertainty as a boundary-ordering device between natural and social scientists. While current research in the human dimensions of global climate change typically uses knowledge and certainty as predictors of an individual's position on global climate change, then collapses the differences between scientists of different expertise into one expert group assumed to be both knowledgeable and certain on global climate change and then compares expert and non-expert beliefs in global climate change, this dissertation took a different approach. This research compares scientists of different expertise and focuses on how natural and social scientists differ in their assessments of the philosophic roots of uncertainty relating to global climate change. In particular, it explores whether the disagreements of natural and social scientists are related to their assessments of the philosophic roots of uncertainty of global climate change communicated during interdisciplinary discussions. As such the present study sought a methodological approach for data collection -- Sense-Making -- that could successfully discern differences in how natural and social scientists conceptualize and communicate uncertainty and how these conceptual differences relate to their perceptions of global climate change. Results revealed differences in natural and social scientists2 perceived source of disagreement, assessments of the philosophical nature of uncertainty and the types of bridging strategies suggested. Additionally, with 2 significant main effects and 14 significant interactions, assessment of the philosophic roots of uncertainty appears to be a mediating variable in the relationship between level of knowledge or sureness and the belief that global climate change is occurring or perceived risk global climate change poses to humans between natural and social scientists. These findings suggest scientific uncertainty is a boundary-ordering device not only between experts and non-experts, but also between natural and social scientists. Moreover, it suggests that the current expert-non-expert model of belief in global climate change may be insufficient to explain the complex dialogic and decision-making environment. Finally, that Sense-Making is a methodology that can acknowledge interdisciplinary differences in the communication of uncertainty between scientists of different expertise and provide a way to view and compare these differences empirically.

Communicating Science Effectively

Communicating Science Effectively
Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 153
Release: 2017-03-08
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309451051

Science and technology are embedded in virtually every aspect of modern life. As a result, people face an increasing need to integrate information from science with their personal values and other considerations as they make important life decisions about medical care, the safety of foods, what to do about climate change, and many other issues. Communicating science effectively, however, is a complex task and an acquired skill. Moreover, the approaches to communicating science that will be most effective for specific audiences and circumstances are not obvious. Fortunately, there is an expanding science base from diverse disciplines that can support science communicators in making these determinations. Communicating Science Effectively offers a research agenda for science communicators and researchers seeking to apply this research and fill gaps in knowledge about how to communicate effectively about science, focusing in particular on issues that are contentious in the public sphere. To inform this research agenda, this publication identifies important influences â€" psychological, economic, political, social, cultural, and media-related â€" on how science related to such issues is understood, perceived, and used.

Psychology and Climate Change

Psychology and Climate Change
Author: Susan Clayton
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 313
Release: 2018-06-05
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 0128131314

Psychology and Climate Change: Human Perceptions, Impacts, and Responses organizes and summarizes recent psychological research that relates to the issue of climate change. The book covers topics such as how people perceive and respond to climate change, how people understand and communicate about the issue, how it impacts individuals and communities, particularly vulnerable communities, and how individuals and communities can best prepare for and mitigate negative climate change impacts. It addresses the topic at multiple scales, from individuals to close social networks and communities. Further, it considers the role of social diversity in shaping vulnerability and reactions to climate change. Psychology and Climate Change describes the implications of psychological processes such as perceptions and motivations (e.g., risk perception, motivated cognition, denial), emotional responses, group identities, mental health and well-being, sense of place, and behavior (mitigation and adaptation). The book strives to engage diverse stakeholders, from multiple disciplines in addition to psychology, and at every level of decision making - individual, community, national, and international, to understand the ways in which human capabilities and tendencies can and should shape policy and action to address the urgent and very real issue of climate change. Examines the role of knowledge, norms, experience, and social context in climate change awareness and action Considers the role of identity threat, identity-based motivation, and belonging Presents a conceptual framework for classifying individual and household behavior Develops a model to explain environmentally sustainable behavior Draws on what we know about participation in collective action Describes ways to improve the effectiveness of climate change communication efforts Discusses the difference between acute climate change events and slowly-emerging changes on our mental health Addresses psychological stress and injury related to global climate change from an intersectional justice perspective Promotes individual and community resilience

Climate Change and Society

Climate Change and Society
Author: Riley E. Dunlap
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 481
Release: 2015-08-24
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0199356122

Climate change is one of the most critical issues of the twenty-first century, presenting a major intellectual challenge to both the natural and social sciences. While there has been significant progress in natural science understanding of climate change, social science analyses have not been as fully developed. Climate Change and Society breaks new theoretical and empirical ground by presenting climate change as a thoroughly social phenomenon, embedded in behaviors, institutions, and cultural practices. This collection of essays summarizes existing approaches to understanding the social, economic, political, and cultural dimensions of climate change. From the factors that drive carbon emissions to those which influence societal responses to climate change, the volume provides a comprehensive overview of the social dimensions of climate change. An improved understanding of the complex relationship between climate change and society is essential for modifying ecologically harmful human behaviors and institutional practices, creating just and effective environmental policies, and developing a more sustainable future. Climate Change and Society provides a useful tool in efforts to integrate social science research, natural science research, and policymaking regarding climate change and sustainability. Produced by the American Sociological Association's Task Force on Sociology and Global Climate Change, this book presents a challenging shift from the standard climate change discourse, and offers a valuable resource for students, scholars, and professionals involved in climate change research and policy.

Social Science and Sustainability

Social Science and Sustainability
Author: Iain Walker
Publisher: CSIRO PUBLISHING
Total Pages: 232
Release: 2017-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1486306411

Sustainability policies shape the ways that society and the economy interact with the environment, natural resources and ecosystems, and address issues such as water, energy and food security, and climate change. These policies are complex and are, at times, obscured by contestation, uncertainty and sometimes ignorance. Ultimately, sustainability problems are social problems and they need to be addressed through social and policy change. Social Science and Sustainability draws on the wide-ranging experience of CSIRO’s social scientists in the sustainability policy domain. These researchers have extensive experience in addressing complex issues of society–nature relationships, usually in interdisciplinary collaboration with natural scientists. This book describes some of the evidence-based concepts, frameworks and methodologies they have developed, which may guide a transition to sustainability. Contributions range from exploring ways to enhance livelihoods and alleviate poverty, to examining Australians’ responses to climate change, to discussing sociological perspectives on sustainability and how to make policy relevant. Researchers, policy-makers and decision-makers around the globe will find this book a valuable and thought-provoking contribution to the sustainability literature. It is also suited to academics and students in postgraduate-level courses in social sciences and sustainability, or in courses in applied sociology, applied social psychology and other applied social sciences.

Climate Change in the Media

Climate Change in the Media
Author: James Painter
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 152
Release: 2013-08-19
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 0857733850

Scientists and politicians are increasingly using the language of risk to describe the climate change challenge. Some researchers have argued that stressing the 'risks' posed by climate change rather than the 'uncertainties' can create a more helpful context for policy makers and a stronger response from the public. However, understanding the concepts of risk and uncertainty - and how to communicate them - is a hotly debated issue. In this book, James Painter analyses how the international media present these and other narratives surrounding climate change. He focuses on the coverage of reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and of the melting ice of the Arctic Sea, and includes six countries: Australia, France, India, Norway, the UK and the USA.

Uncertainty and the Philosophy of Climate Change

Uncertainty and the Philosophy of Climate Change
Author: Martin Bunzl
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 206
Release: 2014-09-25
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1317643054

When it comes to climate change, the greatest difficulty we face is that we do not know the likely degree of change or its cost, which means that environmental policy decisions have to be made under uncertainty. This book offers an accessible philosophical treatment of the broad range of ethical and policy challenges posed by climate change uncertainty. Drawing on both the philosophy of science and ethics, Martin Bunzl shows how tackling climate change revolves around weighing up our interests now against those of future generations, which requires that we examine our assumptions about the value of present costs versus future benefits. In an engaging, conversational style, Bunzl looks at questions such as our responsibility towards non-human life, the interests of the developing and developed worlds, and how the circumstances of poverty shape the perception of risk, ultimate developing and defending a view of humanity and its place in the world that makes sense of our duty to Nature without treating it as a rights bearer. This book will be of interest to students and scholars of environmental studies, philosophy, politics and sociology as well as policy makers.

Multilevel Analysis

Multilevel Analysis
Author: Tom A. B. Snijders
Publisher: SAGE
Total Pages: 282
Release: 1999
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 9780761958901

Multilevel analysis covers all the main methods, techniques and issues for carrying out multilevel modeling and analysis. The approach is applied, and less mathematical than many other textbooks.

Facilitating Climate Change Responses

Facilitating Climate Change Responses
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 174
Release: 2010-11-27
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309160324

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, understanding the need for policy makers at the national level to entrain the behavioral and social sciences in addressing the challenges of global climate change, called on the National Research Council to organize two workshops to showcase some of the decision-relevant contributions that these sciences have already made and can advance with future efforts. The workshops focused on two broad areas: (1) mitigation (behavioral elements of a strategy to reduce the net future human influence on climate) and (2) adaptation (behavioral and social determinants of societal capacity to minimize the damage from climate changes that are not avoided). Facilitating Climate Change Responses documents the information presented in the workshop presentations and discussions. This material illustrates some of the ways the behavioral and social sciences can contribute to the new era of climate research.

Global Environmental Change

Global Environmental Change
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 321
Release: 1991-02-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309044944

Global environmental change often seems to be the most carefully examined issue of our time. Yet understanding the human sideâ€"human causes of and responses to environmental changeâ€"has not yet received sustained attention. Global Environmental Change offers a strategy for combining the efforts of natural and social scientists to better understand how our actions influence global change and how global change influences us. The volume is accessible to the nonscientist and provides a wide range of examples and case studies. It explores how the attitudes and actions of individuals, governments, and organizations intertwine to leave their mark on the health of the planet. The book focuses on establishing a framework for this new field of study, identifying problems that must be overcome if we are to deepen our understanding of the human dimensions of global change, presenting conclusions and recommendations.