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Political ideologies and the objective measurement of climate-related risks to coastal resources

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Abstract

Nearly all research focused on understanding perceptions of climate-related risks to coastal resources has used data collected via mail surveys, online surveys or in-depth qualitative interviews. To compliment previous research, this study focuses on objective perceptions of climate-related risks to coastal resources as measured by respondents’ gaze behavior when viewing images describing or depicting climate-related impacts to coastal resources. We utilize data collected from a survey paired with an eye tracking session to measure perceptions of climate-related risks to coastal resources. We also compare the gaze behavior of liberals and conservatives when viewing an infographic and a digital photograph illustrating climate-related impacts to coastal resources; these included impacts to: 1) abiotic resources; 2) biotic resources; 3) built infrastructure; and 4) recreation opportunities. Survey data indicate liberal participants believed climate-related risks to all four types of impacts were more serious relative to conservative participants. However, eye tracking data revealed both liberal and conservative participants spent an equivalent amount of time viewing the four types of impacts. Consequently, differences in the extent to which liberals and conservatives perceive climate-related risks to coastal resources may be attributable to differences in how the two groups evaluate each of the specific impacts. Eye tracking data also revealed liberal participants noticed impacts to biotic resources faster than conservative participants. Conversely, conservative participants noticed impacts to built infrastructure faster than liberal participants. The practical implications of these findings are noteworthy: climate change communicators should target messages based on the predominant political ideology of their audience or include both biotic and built infrastructure impacts in their messages to capture wider audiences.

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Notes

  1. Previous work has also tended to focus on direct risks to individuals (personal financial risks, personal health risks, and personal social risks). We do not focus on these personal risks in the present study given it would be difficult, albeit not impossible, to objectively assess personal risks using eye tracking technology.

  2. It is important to note that because this sample is relatively small, our comparative statistical tests are likely to be conservative. Undoubtedly, future eye tracking research with larger samples of liberals and conservatives from more diverse sociodemographic backgrounds is warranted.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by NC State University’s Center for Geospatial Analytics. The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Laura Tateosian and Ms. Michelle Glatz for reviewing previous versions of the manuscript and assisting with data collection. The authors would also like to acknowledge Rosemary Keane for assisting with data collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism and Department of Environment and Society, Utah State University, 5215 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT, 84322, USA

    Jordan W. Smith

  2. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA

    Karly Bitsura-Meszaros, Erin Seekamp, Allie McCreary & Kaitlin Burroughs

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  1. Jordan W. Smith
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  2. Karly Bitsura-Meszaros
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Correspondence to Jordan W. Smith.

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Smith, J.W., Bitsura-Meszaros, K., Seekamp, E. et al. Political ideologies and the objective measurement of climate-related risks to coastal resources. J Coast Conserv 20, 409–422 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-016-0455-7

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