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Comparing the relationship between knowledge and support for hydraulic fracturing between residents of the United States and the United Kingdom

Stedman, Richard C.; Evensen, Derrick; O'Hara, Sarah; Humphrey, Mathew

Authors

Richard C. Stedman

Derrick Evensen

SARAH O'HARA SARAH.O'HARA@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Ceo University of Nottingham Online

MATHEW HUMPHREY MATHEW.HUMPHREY@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Political Theory



Abstract

Our work examines the relationship between knowledge/familiarity with shale gas development in a comparative context. The United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) represent very different cases of shale gas development, with development relatively mature in the US whilst, no extraction of shale gas has yet commenced in the UK. Comparing results from two national level survey efforts in 2014, we find higher levels of knowledge about the shale gas industry in the UK than in the US, as well as higher levels of support in the US (opposition levels were similar, but US respondents were much less likely than UK respondents to say that they did not know whether they supported or opposed development). With respect to the relationship between knowledge and support, increased knowledge in the UK is associated with increased support, while knowledge was unrelated to support in the US. We anchor these results within the information deficit model of science, suggesting that concentrated media and governance in the UK have played an important role in producing the demonstrated effects.

Citation

Stedman, R. C., Evensen, D., O'Hara, S., & Humphrey, M. (2016). Comparing the relationship between knowledge and support for hydraulic fracturing between residents of the United States and the United Kingdom. Energy Research and Social Science, 20, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2016.06.017

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 15, 2016
Online Publication Date Jul 13, 2016
Publication Date Oct 1, 2016
Deposit Date Nov 8, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Energy Research & Social Science
Electronic ISSN 2214-6296
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 20
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2016.06.017
Keywords Hydraulic fracturing; Knowledge; Support; Comparative analyses
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/808267
Publisher URL http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629616301463

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