Defining issue-based publics for public engagement: Climate change as a case study

Featherstone, Helen; Weitkamp, Emma; Ling, Katy; Burnet, Frank

Abstract

Understanding your audiences' perceptions is key to the success of any communication campaign. This research note outlines a pilot study using the Situational Model of publics to segment the broader public. Focus groups were used to study publics' understandings and perceptions of climate change to determine if this issue-based publics model is relevant to this field. The work shows the potential of this model of publics, but in the case of climate change it may need a minor refinement. © SAGE Publications.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2009
• Journal: Public Understanding of Science
• Print ISSN: 0963-6625
• Electronic ISSN: 1361-6609
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 214-228
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0963662507082890
• Keywords: climate change, public engagement, issue-based publics model
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1014506
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0963662507082890