When Science, Subject, and Politics Meet: Factors Affecting Professors’ Beliefs About Climate Change

• In Event: Poster Session 13
  In Poster Session: Learning and Motivation in Social and Cultural Contexts Poster Session 2

Abstract

Educating undergraduate about climate change (CC) requires faculty participation across various disciplines, so it’s important to assess factors affecting professors’ CC beliefs. A survey was administered to 346 professors at two western U.S. universities. Results of a regression showed that while political orientation strongly predicts CC beliefs, the effect was moderated by subject area. Political orientation predicted more strongly among business faculty and less strongly among liberal arts (LA) faculty. Furthermore, LA faculty were more trusting of media sources. The results suggest that how CC is framed is affected both by the interpretive communities in which professors participate, and the quality of media sources consumed. Results have instructional implications for how CC is framed for college professors and students

Authors

• Michael Nussbaum, University of Nevada - Las Vegas

• Marissa Christina Owens, University of Nevada - Las Vegas

• Jacqueline Rae Cordova, University of Nevada - Las Vegas