Stimuli
In our Study 2 participants were randomly assigned to a no information control group or to read a vignette about a climate protest that featured a very brief description of one randomly assigned type of climate protest (the combination of a tactic and a target) identified in Study 1 as having either low or high perceived legitimacy; pre and post measures were used to assess the impact of reading the vignette on support for the climate protester’s cause. Below you will find each of the vignettes. Each condition (e.g., high legitimacy action and high legitimacy target) had three vignettes that were were also distributed at random.
In addition to the text each condition began with the following image:
High Legitimacy Action | High Legitimacy Target
- Some climate change activists are boycotting companies that produce fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas). They are demanding that fossil fuels be replaced with clean energy sources (such as wind, solar, and hydropower). The activists feel not enough is being done to protect the climate. They hope their actions will build public support for their cause and motivate people to demand more climate action.
- Some climate change activists are conducting sit-ins at the offices of federal government officials. They are demanding that fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas) be replaced with clean energy sources (such as wind, solar, and hydropower). The activists feel not enough is being done to protect the climate. They hope their actions will build public support for their cause and motivate people to demand more climate action.
- Some climate change activists are conducting protest marches in state capitals. They are demanding that fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas) be replaced with clean energy sources (such as wind, solar, and hydropower). The activists feel not enough is being done to protect the climate. They hope their actions will build public support for their cause and motivate people to demand more climate action.
High Legitimacy Action | Low Legitimacy Target
- Some climate change activists are helping organize labor strikes at museums. They are demanding that fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas) be replaced with clean energy sources (such as wind, solar, and hydropower). The activists feel not enough is being done to protect the climate. They hope their actions will build public support for their cause and motivate people to demand more climate action.
- Some climate change activists are organizing student strikes at universities. They are demanding that fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas) be replaced with clean energy sources (such as wind, solar, and hydropower). The activists feel not enough is being done to protect the climate. They hope their actions will build public support for their cause and motivate people to demand more climate action.
- Some climate change activists are conducting sit-ins in public places to interfere with ordinary people. They are demanding that fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas) be replaced with clean energy sources (such as wind, solar, and hydropower). The activists feel not enough is being done to protect the climate. They hope their actions will build public support for their cause and motivate people to demand more climate action.
Low Legitimacy Action | High Legitimacy Target
- Some climate change activists are breaking into properties owned by fossil fuel companies. They are demanding that fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas) be replaced with clean energy sources (such as wind, solar, and hydropower). The activists feel not enough is being done to protect the climate. They hope their actions will build public support for their cause and motivate people to demand more climate action.
- Some climate change activists are throwing ripe tomatoes at CEOs of fossil fuel companies. They are demanding that fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas) be replaced with clean energy sources (such as wind, solar, and hydropower). The activists feel not enough is being done to protect the climate. They hope their actions will build public support for their cause and motivate people to demand more climate action.
- Some climate change activists are blocking sidewalks in front of federal government buildings. They are demanding that fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas) be replaced with clean energy sources (such as wind, solar, and hydropower). The activists feel not enough is being done to protect the climate. They hope their actions will build public support for their cause and motivate people to demand more climate action.
Low Legitimacy Action | Low Legitimacy Target
- Some climate change activists are throwing soup on displays in museums. They are demanding that fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas) be replaced with clean energy sources (such as wind, solar, and hydropower). The activists feel not enough is being done to protect the climate. They hope their actions will build public support for their cause and motivate people to demand more climate action.
- Some climate change activists are blocking roads that many people use to commute to work. They are demanding that fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas) be replaced with clean energy sources (such as wind, solar, and hydropower). The activists feel not enough is being done to protect the climate. They hope their actions will build public support for their cause and motivate people to demand more climate action.
- Some climate change activists are forming groups that slowly ride bicycles on streets to force people driving cars to slow down. They are demanding that fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas) be replaced with clean energy sources (such as wind, solar, and hydropower). The activists feel not enough is being done to protect the climate. They hope their actions will build public support for their cause and motivate people to demand more climate action.