Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

Spring 5-1-2024

Faculty Advisor(s)

Dr. Ann Gordon

Abstract

Does wealth blind us to the planet's plight, or does it empower action? In this research, I examine the extent to which people's income, political affiliation, and media consumption have affected their fear of climate change. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, I will analyze data from the Wave 7 American Fears Methodology Report 2021; I hypothesize a strong negative correlation between income and fear of climate change. I will also examine the correlation between party affiliation and the level of fear. I hypothesize that those who identify as Democrats will score higher when it comes to fears relating to climate change than those who identify as Republicans. Finding a correlation between these two categories will provide a strong basis to continue my research. and support the hypothesis that political affiliation strongly influences fear of climate change. Building on political affiliation, I hypothesize that individuals who consistently watch Fox News are less likely to fear climate change than those who watch CNN. Although citizens' environmental outlook is case-by-case, examining the correlation between income, political affiliation, and environmental concerns is a worthwhile endeavor. These findings could be valuable for environmental conservation movements, as identifying populations who are less concerned with climate change crises could allow for more effective and efficient message targeting.

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Presented at the Spring 2024 Student Scholar Symposium at Chapman University.

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