TY  - GEN
AU  - Geiger, Nathaniel
AU  - Swim, Janet K.
AU  - Fraser, John
AU  - Geiger, Nathaniel
AU  - Swim, Janet K.
AU  - Fraser, John
LA  - eng
CN  - ENP-38a2d018-7b82-4114-b3b1-064f98a99de6
TI  - Creating a climate for change: interventions, efficacy and public discussion about climate change
PY  - 2017
AB  - Interpersonal discussions about climate change among the public are important for creating positive social change to addressing the issue, yet a majority of the public does not regularly discuss the topic. Previous correlational research connects avoidance of climate change discussions to low efficacy about these discussions. The present research tests whether a knowledge-based intervention which 1) uses evidence-based communication techniques to increase science knowledge and 2) highlights community level solutions can promote public discussion through improving efficacy beliefs. A lab experiment (N = 173) with university students and a field quasi-experiment with two nationally representative samples of visitors to informal science learning centers (e.g., aquariums, N-a = 1068, N-b = 907) demonstrates that those that received a knowledge-based intervention (vs. those who do not receive this intervention) report higher efficacy beliefs, which subsequently enhance engagement in climate change discussion. Our results suggest the potential for national-level knowledge-based interventions which improve efficacy beliefs to catalyze public engagement. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
ER  -