Overstating Scientific Knowledge. The Role of Knowledge Certainty, Hostile Media Perceptions, and Presumed Media Effects

• In Event: Climate Change Communication

Abstract

Scientific issues are politicized when non-scientific actors publicly question established scientific knowledge for political reasons. In such cases, a conflict arises over scientific knowledge and related policies, in which scientists become more or less involved. Research on partisans in conflicts has shown that the more the members of conflicting parties are convinced of their position the more they perceive media coverage as hostile. Such perceptions can evoke presumptions of detrimental media effects on others and motivate partisans to engage in corrective communication. Such relationships were tested in a survey of 131 (42 %) German professors of climate science. Virtually all climate scientists confirm human-induced climate change. The more strictly they reject doubt about it the more they perceive that the media downplays climate change and the more they presume the media increases politicians’ doubt about it. This presumption, in turn, enhances their acceptance of overstatements of scientific knowledge in public.

Authors

• Senja Post, U of Zurich

• Natalia Ramirez, U of Zurich