Julie C. Libarkin|Anne Gold|Sara Harris|Karen S. McNeal|Ryan P. Bowles
A new, valid measure of climate change understanding: associations with risk perception
Michigan State University|Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences|University of Colorado Boulder|University of British Columbia|Auburn University|Michigan State University
relationship climate change understanding variables including risk perception beliefs worldviews important consideration work increase public attention climate change despite significant effort develop rigorous mechanisms measuring affective variables measurement climate change understanding often relegated unvalidated questions question sets remedy situation constructed analyzed climate change concept inventory using suite validity reliability steps including rasch analysis resultant 21item test high degree validity reliability measuring understanding basic climate change processes inventory scores along variables included model climate change risk perception providing concurrent validity test new insight importance understanding worldview values risk perception find environmental beliefs cultural cognition worldview play larger role predicting individuals risk perception knowledge implications addressing climate change considered