Introduction

Kati Corlew has been conducting qualitative and quantitative community-based research in climate change for nearly a decade, first as a graduate student, then as a post-doctoral researcher, and now as an Assistant Professor. Over the years, in interviews and in comments after community presentations, she has repeatedly come across an interesting facet of our mental models for understanding climate change: namely, people do not seem to consider climate change in a vacuum, separate from other environmental and social changes. Since our mental models of a concept influence our actions and inactions, Kati believes understanding how people think about climate change is vital to getting people to act on climate change.

Previous research into climate change cognitions have covered such varied topics as climate change literacy (Kahan et al., 2002), the political and personality indicators of climate change denial (McCright & Dunlap, 2011), and the difficulty with comprehending the scope and timescale of climate change (Arnall & Kothari, 2015). Additionally, extensive multidisciplinary research has looked at the vast array of the human impacts of climate change, including impacts to infrastructure; to social and political systems, agriculture and livelihoods; as well as trauma responses to disasters and political strife (Corlew, 2017; Finucane, et al., 2013; Reuveny, 2007). However, little research has been conducted on whether and how mental models of climate changes are integrated with people’s mental models of other social changes. A better understanding of whether and how conceptions of climate change are nested within conceptions of other social changes could provide climate change professionals with additional tools to guide education and action.

To reach a better understanding of peoples perceptions of climate change we will use a qualitative research method called PhotoVoice. PhotoVoice, is a method “by which people can identify, represent, and enhance their community”. (Wang & Burris, 1997, p. 369) Participants will meet in focus groups to discuss the research topics, and then go out into their communities to take photographs according to their conceptualization, values, and priorities regarding the topic. Participants will select photographs to present and discuss in a final focus group (Gleason & Corlew, 2019). One of the reasons PhotoVoice will be used is to empower participants to direct the research outcomes (Foster-Fishman, et al., 2005). By placing participants’ photos, stories, and conceptualizations at the center of the study, we hope to expand the exploratory nature of this research to include themes outside of current climate change conceptualizations.

The data collection period for this project is concluded. We held focus groups in Dover-Foxcroft, Bangor, Damariscotta, Millinocket, and Presque Isle. Stay tuned for future updates -- we will be hosting community events in each of these locations AFTER the current COVID-19 outbreak has passed. We will also be updating this website with findings from the study, including images and stories from our participants. We also plan to create a booklet of images and stories to share around the state of Maine.