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Climate scientists vs climate sceptics : constructions of climate change in the blogosphere

Ziegert, I.A. (2022) Climate scientists vs climate sceptics : constructions of climate change in the blogosphere.

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Abstract:This study explores how climate change is discursively constructed in a climate science and a climate sceptical blog. Ten broad constructions of climate change emerge from discourse analysis conducted with two blog posts from Skeptical Science (climate science blog) and Watts Up With That (climate sceptical blog). This thesis aims to provide a discourse-level understanding of climate change, as language is the central medium for human interaction and aids in understanding how climate change is discursively constructed. The results illustrate that the following constructions show the most overlap in both blogs: climate change constructed as a topic of science, followed by constructions of climate change as an emotional topic and climate change as apocalyptic. On Skeptical Science, climate change is mainly constructed as an existential threat, whereas, on WUWT, climate change is commonly constructed as exaggerated and as a phenomenon influenced by people in power positions. The results mirror the complexity of climate change as a phenomenon. They revealed that the construction of climate change is interconnected with different viewpoints and feelings towards climate change. Hence, the comparative portrayal of both blog posts aims to increase our understanding of how climate change is constructed as part of our shared reality.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:17 linguistics and theory of literature, 77 psychology
Programme:Psychology BSc (56604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/91505
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