Journal of Social Science for Policy Implications

Citizens’ Decision-Making Frameworks on Climate Change Policy Preferences
Tabitha Morton, Bryce Hannibal

Abstract
In this study, we examine the effects of two decision styles – one based on knowledge and one based on emotions/affect– on public climate change policy preferences. We argue that the framework itself affects one’s policy preferences, even when controlling for risk. We examine this relationship using data from a National Public Climate Change Survey. From this survey of U.S. adults, we determined individuals’ levels of perceived knowledge, dread of climate change events, and climate change policy preferences. We find that those scoring high on our assessed knowledge scale are less supportive of mitigation policies, while those scoring high on the perceived knowledge scale prefer mitigation policies. Those scoring high on the emotion/affect-based scale, measured as one’s dread of climate change events, are more supportive of mitigation policies. We conclude that including decision-making frameworks in models of climate change policy preferences may help us better predict and understand citizens’ preferences.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jsspi.v6n2a1