Van der Linden, S. (2021). The gateway belief model: A large-scale replication.

Title: The Gateway Belief Model: A Large-Scale Replication Author: Sander van der Linden Date: 2021

Summary: In this study, van der Linden conducts a large-scale replication of the Gateway Belief Model (GBM), which posits that an individual's perception of the scientific consensus on climate change serves as a "gateway" to other beliefs and attitudes related to climate change, such as personal concern, support for climate policies, and intentions to take mitigative actions.

The author conducted a nationally representative survey of American adults, collecting data on respondents' perceptions of the scientific consensus, their beliefs about the causes and consequences of climate change, their concern for the issue, their support for climate policies, and their intentions to engage in mitigative actions. The study aimed to replicate the original GBM findings and to investigate potential moderators, such as political ideology and information-processing styles.

The results of this replication study largely confirmed the original GBM findings, indicating that individuals who perceive a strong scientific consensus on climate change are more likely to hold other climate-related beliefs and attitudes that align with the scientific understanding of the issue. Furthermore, the study found that the GBM's effects were robust across political ideologies and information-processing styles, suggesting that the model is broadly applicable across different segments of the population.

The study contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting the GBM and underscores the importance of communicating the scientific consensus on climate change to the public. By enhancing public understanding of the scientific consensus, climate communicators can help to foster a more accurate and informed understanding of the issue, promote public concern and support for climate policies, and encourage individuals to take mitigative actions.