Climate Change Opinions Over Time
https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/about/projects/global-warmings-six-americas/
In recent years climate change has become a defining global problem. The vast amount of existing evidence proving that climate change is a growing threat has made it abundantly clear that “we” can no longer ignore this issue. So how do we face it? In 2008, the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, released a survey, Six Americas Super Short Survey Yay (SASSY), that highlights the wide range of opinions that Americans hold towards climate change. SASSY is a short questionnaire, consisting of four questions, that sorts respondents into one of six categories: alarmed, concerned, cautious, disengaged, doubtful, and dismissive. The results allow respondents to compare how American perspectives have changed over time.
How To Use SASSY
The SASSY questionnaire is easily available online to the general public. The one-minute survey can be a teaching tool to build students' awareness of the evolving opinions that Americans have on climate change. Along with the survey comes a group scoring tool that allows you to calculate the results of an entire group and compare the results to national averages. This is a great resource for instructors interested in involving their entire classes in a group activity.
Environmental Science teacher, CA Pilling, of Georgetown Day School, uses SASSY to introduce a unit to her students on climate change. She notes: “The SASSY website has a plethora of climate change data that is already assembled which allowed my students to immediately dive into critical thinking and data analysis.” She continued, “The graphics were fantastic! It captured my students' deep interest around the different categories (e.g., regional and political differences) and allowed them to explore how they have changed over time.”
What We Can Learn From SASSY
Global Warming's Six Americas is an audience segmentation tool designed to help people better understand their own climate views as well as others.
In a classroom environment, this educational tool can be used to provide students with exposure in learning how to analyze data and examine trends. In addition, SASSY clearly identifies the six levels of engagement with climate change and through understanding these diverse attitudes, individuals are ultimately increasing their awareness of this issue. Lastly, as CA Pilling noted, the SASSY survey website has numerous resources and information relating to climate change, opinion maps, and other related work articles.
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Written by Tsion Syoum, a senior at Haverford College ‘21 majoring in Environmental Studies, and Sustainability Intern, Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants, February 2021.
Article printed in PAISBOA’s Friday Flyer, February 19, 2021.
