Journal article
Sampling bias in climate–conflict research
Nature Climate Change, Vol.8(3), pp.200-203
2018
Abstract
Critics have argued that the evidence of an association between climate change and conflict is flawed because the research relies on a dependent variable sampling strategy1,2,3,4. Similarly, it has been hypothesized that convenience of access biases the sample of cases studied (the ‘streetlight effect’5). This also gives rise to claims that the climate–conflict literature stigmatizes some places as being more ‘naturally’ violent6,7,8. Yet there has been no proof of such sampling patterns. Here we test whether climate–conflict research is based on such a biased sample through a systematic review of the literature. We demonstrate that research on climate change and violent conflict suffers from a streetlight effect. Further, studies which focus on a small number of cases in particular are strongly informed by cases where there has been conflict, do not sample on the independent variables (climate impact or risk), and hence tend to find some association between these two variables. These biases mean that research on climate change and conflict primarily focuses on a few accessible regions, overstates the links between both phenomena and cannot explain peaceful outcomes from climate change. This could result in maladaptive responses in those places that are stigmatized as being inherently more prone to climate-induced violence.
Details
- Title
- Sampling bias in climate–conflict research
- Authors/Creators
- C. Adams (Author/Creator) - Melbourne Business SchoolT. Ide (Author/Creator) - Melbourne Business SchoolJ. Barnett (Author/Creator)A. Detges (Author/Creator) - Freie Universität Berlin
- Publication Details
- Nature Climate Change, Vol.8(3), pp.200-203
- Publisher
- Nature Research
- Identifiers
- 991005541030307891
- Copyright
- © 2018 Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Murdoch University
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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