The Effect of Trust in Science and Media Use on Public Belief in Anthropogenic Climate Change: A Meta-analysis

2023/11/13 by Jeanne Marit Bogert, Jacek Buczny, Jeffrey A. Harvey +1 · 1 voice · 3 citations
Arts and Humanities · Environmental Science · Social Sciences · #Climate Change Communication and Perception #Environmental Education and Sustainability #Media Influence and Health

paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/17524032.2023.2280749

openalex publication_date 2023/11/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22

Abstract

A consensus gap exists between scientific and public opinion on the existence and causes of anthropogenic climate change (ACC). Public opinion on ACC is influenced by individual trust in science and the use of different media sources. We used systematic review and applied meta-analysis to examine how trust in science and the use of new versus traditional, and centralized versus user-generated media are related to public opinion on ACC. We compiled two data sets: trust in science (n = 13, k = 18) and media use (n = 12, k = 68). Our results showed a positive relationship between the levels of trust, media use, and ACC beliefs in line with the scientific consensus (i.e. pro-social ACC beliefs), with media use being moderated by nationality. Additionally, the effect size for using new or user-generated media sources was twice as large as using traditional or centralized media sources.

Citations

• The Psychological Distance of Climate Change
• On the Multilevel Nature of Meta-Analysis: A Tutorial, Comparison of Software Programs, and Discussion of Analytic Choices
• Risk‐of‐bias VISualization (robvis): An R package and Shiny web app for visualizing risk‐of‐bias assessments
• The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews
• Nationalist ideology, rightwing populism, and public views about climate change in Europe
• Doing Meta-Analysis with R: A Hands-On Guide
• Polarizing news? Representations of threat and efficacy in leading US newspapers’ coverage of climate change

Cited by

• Flooding is Not Like Filling a Bath
• How News Media, Climate Anxiety, and Trust Shape Pro-Climate Behaviour Across Eight Countries
• Understanding trust in climate change communication: the role of user characteristics and decision time

Discussions

• Interesting looking meta-analysis on trust in science + media use and belief in anthropogenic climate change. 🧪 doi.org/10.1080/1752... (h/t @nielsmede.bsky.social over on the bird site) [bsky, 5 points, 1 comments]

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• Personal Efficacy, the Information Environment, and Attitudes Toward Global Warming and Climate Change in the United States
• A 27-country test of communicating the scientific consensus on climate change
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• Understanding trust in climate change communication: the role of user characteristics and decision time