Opinion on fracking linked to political ideology, study says
Whether or not the UK should get the frack on with it and start extracting shale gas is a politically contentious issue.
So it's hardly surprising that an individual's stance on the controversial drilling technique is linked to their political persuasion.
Politically conservative people are more likely to be in favour of fracking due to its economic benefits and fewer health risks, while liberals took the opposite view and called for more investment in renewable energy sources.
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The study by Plymouth University also found that those without an extensive knowledge of fracking were less likely to identify risks, compared to those who know more about the topic, Science Daily reported.
"Hydraulic fracking has become a contentious issue around the globe, but very little is known about what affects public opinion on the practice," Yaniv Hanoch, professor of decision science at Plymouth University and co-author of the study, said.
"Indeed, countries such as Germany have banned fracking due to its potential health and environmental risks, while the UK government has approved it due largely to its potential economic benefits."
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"By using this study as a starting point, we can begin to understand what may affect a person's opinion on fracking, and the present study reveals that political ideology and basic fracking knowledge are key predictors of fracking and energy source attitudes."
"Improving peoples' knowledge about fracking would be a first step in altering their attitudes towards fracking and possibly other energy sources."
The study was authored Hanoch, alongside Dr Becky Choma and Shannon Currie from Ryerson University.