'Climate change' from the audience perspective. Perception and interpretation of a scientific topic in the process of public communication. Climate change communication in online public arenas and its effects.

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Irene Neverla
• Subject Area: Communication Sciences
• Term: from 2009 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 127610805

The purpose of this research project is to examine how the general media users perceive and interpret climate change and how the media influence their knowledge and attitude. Climate change is an abstract phenomenon, which is not individually perceptible by the senses. Despite the increasing scientific consensus on the anthropogenic global warming, the scientifically generated climate knowledge concerning the consequences and extent remains conflicting, fragile and uncertain. The media are very important for the communication of this socially relevant topic. In the first and second research phases of this project, we developed the multi-factorial model of media use and media effects and investigated 1) the correlation between media use and knowledge, problem awareness and behavioural intentions regarding climate change; and 2) the process of media appropriation of the recipients. In the third phase, we are going to examine the online communication on climate change. Online communication in general and especially concerning climate change has become more relevant within the last years, but there is a lack of research of online communication on climate change. This research project will contribute to fill this research gap. As theoretical foundation, we will use an adapted concept of public in the Internet of Schmidt (in print), which will be integrated into our multi-factorial model of media use and media effects. The concept takes into account the diversity of online contents, which include mass-mediated and interpersonal communication and mixed forms of media use and reception. We assume that different communicative settings of public, as well as the connection among online public arenas influence the perception, selection and effect of online communication. We have a mixed methods research design:1) We will conduct a meta-analysis of empirical studies regarding the media reception and effects of climate change to analyse their concepts and operationalizations of the laypeople-knowledge on climate change. Its purpose is to explain inconsistencies in the empirical findings and operationalize knowledge more precisely in future research, particularly about laypeople-knowledge on climate change in Social Media. 2) We will hold a quantitative online content analysis on climate change communication in different online public arenas, which are conducted at the same time as the panel survey from KlimaRez II to compare the findings, as well as an additional quantitative survey of 'produsers' of the online contents. 3) We will conduct a qualitative netnographic analysis in different public arenas to examine discussions. 4) We will realise a participant observation of 'produsers' of online climate communication to understand the processes of selection and reception.This research design enables us to examine precisely the relation between contents of different online public arenas and climate-related knowledge and attitude.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1409: Science and the General Public: Understanding Fragile and Conflicting Evidence
• Participating Person: Professorin Dr. Monika Taddicken