Work

How Forced Versus Selective Exposure Matters for the Influence of Emotional Appeals About Climate Change in a Sample of Americans

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Researchers studying the influence of strategic science messages have overlooked the fact that people are selective in the content they consume. In this experiment, participants were “forced” to view one of three climate appeals (threat, humor, informational), reflecting the typical between-subjects experiment, or they were permitted to choose between one of these appeals (or topical alternatives), reflecting real-world media choice. Compared with forced exposure, choice exposure resulted in slightly less reactance and slightly greater enjoyment, appreciation, and persuasion outcomes—even after accounting for self-selection biases. These findings underscore the value of treating research participants as selective consumers of science content.

Source: Science Communication

DOI: 10.1177/10755470251316777

Authors: Chris Skurka, Rainer Romero-Canyas, Helen H. Joo, Jeff Niederdeppe

Institutions: Pennsylvania State University, Environmental Defense Fund, Cornell University

Language: English

Topic: Climate Change Communication and Perception

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,900

OpenAlex ID: W4407972349

FWCI: 1.844

Cites: 44

Cited by: 1

Related to: 10