Communicating climate change through documentary film: imagery, emotion, and efficacy

Ashley Bieniek-Tobasco, Sabrina McCormick (), Rajiv N. Rimal, Cherise B. Harrington, Madelyn Shafer and Hina Shaikh
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Ashley Bieniek-Tobasco: George Washington University
Sabrina McCormick: George Washington University
Rajiv N. Rimal: George Washington University
Cherise B. Harrington: George Washington University
Madelyn Shafer: George Washington University
Hina Shaikh: George Washington University

Climatic Change, 2019, vol. 154, issue 1, No 1, 18 pages

Abstract: Abstract We used qualitative in-depth interviews to evaluate the effects of a mass media climate change program on audiences’ efficacy beliefs, outcome expectations, emotional responses, and motivations and intentions to address climate change. We conducted in-depth interviews with 73 participants from five US cities and three political parties who had watched episodes of the documentary television series, Season Two of Years of Living Dangerously. Eligible participants completed an in-depth interview within 24 h of viewing a select episode. Data were transcribed and then coded and analyzed using QSR NVivo 10. Weak efficacy beliefs limited intentions to enact concrete behavioral change. Outcome expectations, national-level actions, imagery, and emotional responses to stories played an important role in these processes. Explicit information about expected outcomes of various actions, and specifically successes, should be provided in order to boost efficacy and incentivize behavior.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1007/s10584-019-02408-7

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