Question Wording: Consequences of Global Warming

Research by the Political Psychology Research Group at Stanford University

Introduction Fundamentals Who Should Take Action Government Policy Economic Side Effects Willingness to Pay Priority Consequences of Global Warming Preparing for Possible Consequences Consumer Choices Attitude Strength Voter Behavior Opinions in the States Trust in Scientists Scientists' Beliefs Partisan Views Publications

Question wording for graphics on “Consequences of Global Warming” page.  Note, question wording has altered slightly between some years.  Experiments have shown no significant difference between results obtained with these different wordings.

Graph: Percent of Americans Who Believed That They Had Seen Consequences of Global Warming

(2013, 2015, 2020, 2024) “Do you think you have seen any effects of global warming happening already, either in person or through television, radio, newspapers, magazines, or the Internet, or you think you haven’t seen any effects of global warming in any of these ways?”

Graph: Percent of Americans Who Thought That Global Weather Patterns Have Been More Unstable Over the Last Three Years

(2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2024) [random half of respondents] “As far as you know, would you say that weather patterns around the world have been more stable in the last three years than before that, more unstable, or about the same?”
(2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2024) [other half of respondents] “As far as you know, would you say that weather patterns around the world have been more unstable in the last three years than before that, more stable, or about the same?”

Graph: Percent of Americans Who Thought That Average World Temperatures Have Been Higher In the Last Three Years

(2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2024) [random half of respondents] “As far as you know, would you say that average temperatures around the world have been higher in the last three years than before that, lower, or about the same?”
(2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2024) [other half of respondents] “As far as you know, would you say that average temperatures around the world have been lower in the last three years than before that, higher, or about the same?”

Graph: Percent of Americans Who Thought That Weather Patterns In the County Where They Live Have Been More Unstable Over the Last Three Years

(2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020) [random half of respondents] “As far as you know, would you say that weather patterns in the county where you live have been more stable in the last three years than before that, more unstable, or about the same?”
(2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020) [other half of respondents] “As far as you know, would you say that weather patterns in the county where you live have been more unstable in the last three years than before that, more stable, or about the same?”

Graph: Percent of Americans Who Believed That Global Warming Was Causing More Droughts

(2012) [for respondents who believe global warming is happening] “Do you think global warming is causing there to be more droughts, is causing there to be fewer droughts, or is global warming not affecting the number of droughts?”
(2012) [for respondents who didn’t know or didn’t think global warming is happening] “Assuming it’s happening, do you think global warming is causing there to be more droughts, is causing there to be fewer droughts, or is global warming not affecting the number of droughts?”
(2013, 2015) [for respondents who believe global warming is happening] “Do you think global warming has caused there to be more droughts, has caused there to be fewer droughts, or has global warming not affected the number of droughts?”
(2013, 2015) [for respondents who don’t know or don’t think global warming is happening] “Assuming it is happening, do you think global warming has caused there to be more droughts, has caused there to be fewer droughts, or has global warming not affected the number of droughts?”

Graph: Percent of Americans Who Believed That Global Warming Would Cause Storms To Be More Damaging

(2013) “If nothing is done to prevent it, do you think that global warming during the next 100 years will cause storms to be more damaging, or do you think that global warming will not cause this?”

Graph: Percent of Americans Who Believed That Global Warming Would Cause Sea Level Rise

(2013) “If nothing is done to prevent it, do you think that global warming will cause the world’s sea level to rise during the next 100 years, or do you think that global warming won’t cause this during the next 100 years?”

Graph: Percentage of Americans Who Thought That Global Warming Would Hurt Future Generations At Least a Moderate Amount

(2009-2010, 2013, 2015) [for respondents who think global warming is happening] “If nothing is done to reduce global warming in the future, how much do you think it will hurt future generations—a great deal, a lot, a moderate amount, a little, or not at all?”
(2009-2010, 2013, 2015) [for respondents who do not think global warming is happening] “Assuming it’s happening, if nothing is done to reduce global warming in the future, how much do you think it will hurt future generations—a great deal, a lot, a moderate amount, a little, or not at all?”
(2020, 2024) “If nothing is done to reduce global warming in the future, how much do you think it will hurt future generations—a great deal, a lot, a moderate amount, a little, or not at all?”

Graph: Percentage of Americans Who Thought That Global Warming Would Help Future Generations At Least a Moderate Amount

(2009-2010, 2013, 2015) [for respondents who think global warming is happening] “If nothing is done to reduce global warming in the future, how much do you think it will help future generations—a great deal, a lot, a moderate amount, a little, or not at all?”
(2009-2010, 2013, 2015) [for respondents who do not think global warming is happening] “Assuming it’s happening, if nothing is done to reduce global warming in the future, how much do you think it will help future generations—a great deal, a lot, a moderate amount, a little, or not at all?”
(2020) “If nothing is done to reduce global warming in the future, how much do you think it will help future generations—a great deal, a lot, a moderate amount, a little, or not at all?”

Graph: Percentage of Americans Who Thought That Global Warming Would Hurt Them Personally At Least a Moderate Amount

(2009-2010, 2013, 2015) [for respondents who think global warming is happening] “If nothing is done to reduce global warming in the future, how much do you think it will hurt you personally—a great deal, a lot, a moderate amount, a little or not at all?”
(2009-2010, 2013, 2015) [for respondents who think global warming is not happening] “Assuming it’s happening, If nothing is done to reduce global warming in the future, how much do you think it will hurt you personally—a great deal, a lot, a moderate amount, a little or not at all?”
(2020, 2024) “If nothing is done to reduce global warming in the future, how much do you think it will hurt you personally—a great deal, a lot, a moderate amount, a little, or not at all?”

Graph: Percentage of Americans Who Thought That Global Warming Would Help Them Personally At Least a Moderate Amount

(2015) [for respondents who think global warming is happening] “If nothing is done to reduce global warming in the future, how much do you think it will help you personally—a great deal, a lot, a moderate amount, a little or not at all?”
(2015) [for respondents who think global warming is not happening] “Assuming it’s happening, if nothing is done to reduce global warming in the future, how much do you think it will help you personally—a great deal, a lot, a moderate amount, a little or not at all?”
(2020) “If nothing is done to reduce global warming in the future, how much do you think it will help you personally—a great deal, a lot, a moderate amount, a little or not at all?”