Correlates of accuracy and inaccuracy in the perception of the climate of opinion for four environmental issues

This study examines some of the psychological and social structural correlates of accuracy and inaccuracy in assessments of the climate of opinion about environmental problems using data from a telephone survey of 1, 002 adults. News media use, news media influence, and information seeking were associated consistently with accurate assessments of the majority opinion. Situational theory's problem and constraint recognition were associated with accurate estimates of the climate of opinion and provided a means of determining whether or not respondents were actually accurate or were simply projecting their own opinions to the majority. Interpersonal discussions and environmental concern were associated with inaccurate assessments of majority opinion.