The UK Data Service is excited to announce the publication of a new impact case study exploring how the design of survey questions shapes what we know about public attitudes towards climate change.
As climate change becomes an increasingly urgent and politically charged issue, understanding public opinion is critical for shaping effective policy. Surveys are one of the most powerful tools for capturing these views, but the way questions are framed and interpreted can influence the effects on policy.
Measuring climate opinion
Authored by John Kenny and colleagues at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, this work introduces a comprehensive framework for classifying climate-related survey questions.
Drawing on 315 surveys worldwide, including data accessed via the UK Data Service, the framework helps researchers and policymakers interpret what is really being measured when we talk about “climate opinion”.
The case study states: “As climate change becomes an increasingly urgent and politically charged issue, researchers and policymakers rely heavily on survey data to understand public attitudes and justify action. Yet, the diversity of concepts measured in these surveys often leads to inconsistent interpretations and fragmented evidence.”
About the case study
This is the first deep dive into the impact of John Kenny’s framework, which is now influencing major European initiatives shaping climate and social policy.
The case study explores how Infra4NextGen and SoGreen have used this framework to underpin modules in CRONOS-3, a cross-national panel survey led by ESS ERIC and developed in collaboration with leading research infrastructures – including CESSDA ERIC, SHARE ERIC, GGP, EVS, and GUIDE.
Read the case study to learn more about this research and its impact.