Jason T. Carmichael|Robert J. Brulle|Joanna K. Huxster
The great divide: understanding the role of media and other drivers of the partisan divide in public concern over climate change in the USA, 2001–2014
McGill University|Drexel University|Bucknell University
recent scholarship identified large growing divide republicans democrats view issue climate change number studies suggested polarization product systematic efforts spread doubt reality climate change media general conservative media particular however research date largely relied speculation relationship rather empirical evidence improve existing research conducting empirical analysis factors affecting nationallevel quarterly shifts public concern climate change january 2001 december 2014 analysis focuses potential role played four factors account changes levels concern regarding climate change 1 media coverage 2 extreme weather 3 issuance major scientific reports 4 changes economic activity foreign conflict results suggest partisan media influences beliefs ways expected communication scholars describe echo chamber effects boomerang effects among supporting evidence find partisan media strengthen views likeminded audiences also republicans presented opposing frames climate change liberal media appear reject messages less concerned issue findings also demonstrate dissemination science increases concern climate change among democrats influence republicans finally extreme weather increase concern among democrats republicans implications future research discussed