Dan M. Kahan|Ellen Peters|Maggie Wittlin|Paul Slovic|Lisa Larrimore Ouellette|Donald Braman|Gregory N. Mandel
The polarizing impact of science literacy and numeracy on perceived climate change risks
Yale University|The Ohio State University|Yale University|Decision Research|Yale University|George Washington University|Temple University
public apathy climate change often attributed deficit comprehension limits technical reasoning however evidence suggests individuals highest degrees science literacy technical reasoning capacity concerned climate change culturally polarized seeming public apathy climate change often attributed deficit comprehension public knows little science claimed understand evidence avoid misled1 widespread limits technical reasoning aggravate problem forcing citizens use unreliable cognitive heuristics assess risk2 conducted study test account found support members public highest degrees science literacy technical reasoning capacity concerned climate change rather ones among cultural polarization greatest result suggests public divisions climate change stem publics incomprehension science distinctive conflict interest personal interest individuals forming beliefs line held others share close ties collective one share making use best available science promote common welfare