1. Chapter 6: Public Opinion1

2. Public Opinion
In a democracy, government policy is suppose to follow public opinion.
Yet the history of capital punishment in America shows that government policy may resist public opinion.
Democratic theory implies that government leaders are able to ascertain what the public is thinking about current political and social issues.

3. Statistical Sampling Theory
Sampling theory has made it possible to be better informed about the distribution of the population’s belief and attitudes about politics and government.
Modern survey research methodology allows national opinion to be estimated within specific degrees of accuracy

4. Government Policy and Public Opinion
Knowing how often government policy runs against majority opinion, it becomes harder to defend the U.S. government as democratic under the majoritarian view of democracy.
To evaluate the role of public opinion in U.S. government, we need to know more about how opinions are distributed and how citizens acquire their opinions.

5. Public Opinion Political Values How We Form Political Opinions
Measuring Public Opinion
Public Opinion and Democracy
The Citizen’s Role 3

6. Public Opinion
A term used to denote the values and attitudes that people have about issues, events, and personalities.
Values--are a person’s basic orientations to politics. They are deep rooted goals, aspirations, and ideas that shape an individual’s perceptions of political issues and events.

7. Public Opinion Matters!

8. Political Awareness
Democracy assumes an informed and interested public
Yet, Americans lack any real political knowledge
Can you name the president, your members of Congress, the Justices of the U. S. Supreme Court?
Political knowledge is the foundation for politically active society 2

9. Student Interest in Politics

10. An Opinionated Public
Americans possess a wide range of opinions on political matters
This is particularly true for salient issues
Salient issues are those issues that are important to that individual 9

12. What is Public Opinion?
Public opinion is the term used to denote beliefs and attitudes that people have about issues, events, and personalities
We need to understand what factors shape public opinion 11

13. Political Ideology
Political Ideology is a cohesive set of beliefs that form a general philosophy about the role of government.
In the United States the ideological divide is between conservatism and liberalism.

14. The Formation of Public Opinion
Attitudes about political issues and personalities tend to be shaped by underlying beliefs and values
The process through which these beliefs and values are formed is called political socialization 12

15. AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION
THE PROCESS THROUGH WHICH A PERSON LEARNS OF VALUES, BELIEFS, AND OPINIONS
AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION
FAMILY
THE FIRST AND PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT AGENT
SCHOOL
A LOT OF HIDDEN CURRICULUM ITEMS WHICH ATTEMPT TO “INCULATE” GOOD CITIZENSHIP VALUES IN THE PERSON

16. OTHER AGENTS RELIGION GENERATIONAL EFFECTS LIFE-CYCLE EFFECTS
MANY OF A PERSON’S VALUES AND BELIEFS ABOUT POLITICS CAN ORIGINATE IN RELIGIOUS TRAINING
GENERATIONAL EFFECTS
IMPORTANT EVENTS CAN AFFECT THE VIEWS OF PERSONS WHO LIVED THROUGH THEM
LIFE-CYCLE EFFECTS
GETTING OLDER MAY HELP SHAPE A PERSON’S POLITICAL OPINIONS
MEDIA INFLUENCE
MASS MEDIA CAN INFLUENCE OUR VIEWS ON POLITICAL ISSUES

17. Family
Most people acquire their initial orientations toward government from their family
Differences in family background, opinions, child-rearing will ultimately affect your political and social values and beliefs 14

18. Social Groups Involuntary Voluntary Gender Race Political Parties
Labor Unions
Occupational Groups 15

20. Education Education used to convey a common set of civic values
Yet, schools are often seen as “boot camps” as they stress order and compliance
College education stresses participation and democratic values 16

21. Religion

22. Political Conditions
Historical and cultural events that occur during your life will shape your world view
Students of the 1960s have a different perspective than students of the 1990s 17

23. The Media

24. From Political Values to Ideology
An Ideology is a set of underlying orientations, ideas and beliefs
Liberals generally support social reform and a social safety net
Conservatives generally prefer the social and economic status quo 18

25. Self Identification

27. Profile of a Liberal Advocates increasing taxes for the wealthy
Advocates a “Right to Food Policy” to make available a nutritionally balanced diet for all U.S. citizens.
Advocates higher salaries for teachers, more college grants and loans, and doubling the federal education budget

28. Profile of a Liberal
Favors foreign assistance programs designed to wipe out hunger and starvation throughout the world.
Advocates the establishment of a national health care program for all citizens.
Advocates dramatic expansion of federal social and urban programs.

29. Profile of a Conservative
Wants to trim the size of the federal government and transfer power to state and local governments.
Favors prayer in school
Opposes gay right legislation
Opposes affirmative action.
Favors making most abortions illegal.

30. Profile of a Conservative
Supports programs that would allow children and parents more flexibility in deciding what schools to attend.
Would eliminate some environment regulations.
Opposes U.S. participation in international organizations.

31. The ideological conundrum
Liberal
Conservative

32. How We Form Public Opinion
Political Knowledge
The Influence of Political Leaders, Private Groups, and the Media 19

33. How We Form Political Opinions: Questions
What influences the way we form political opinions?
How are political issues marketed and managed by the government, private groups, and the media? 20

34. Political Knowledge
Political activity is a function of awareness and interest
The lack of political knowledge can lead to inconsistencies between beliefs and opinions
Political efficacy is the belief that you have an ability to influence government and politics 21

35. The Influence of Political Leaders, Private Groups and the Media
Government and Public Opinion
Private Groups and Public Opinion
The Media and Public Opinion 22

36. Government and Public Opinion
All governments attempt to influence, manipulate, or manage their citizens beliefs
Nationalism and encouraging participation allow citizens to buy into the system 23

37. Political Trust

38. Confidence in Institutions

39. Private Groups and Public Opinion
Interest groups also attempt to mobilize the public to support their issues and put pressure on government officials 24

40. The Media and Public Opinion
The communication media are among the most powerful forces operating in the market place of ideas 25

41. Measuring Public Opinion
Constructing Public Opinion From Surveys
Public Opinion, Political Knowledge, and the Importance of Ignorance 26

42. Measuring Public Opinion: Questions
How can public opinion be measured?
What problems arise from public opinion polling? 27

43. Constructing Public Opinion from Surveys
Public opinion polls are scientific instruments for measuring public opinion
To be accurate, the poll must be based on a representative sample of the population
The validity of the poll depends on the sampling procedure used
1,500 samples are needed for a national survey 28

44. Public Opinion Analysis
Public opinion can be analyzed according to the shape and stability of the distribution of opinions among citizens.
The shape of the distribution refers to the pattern or physical form of the responses when counted and plotted.

45. Skewed Distribution
Capital Punishment

46. Consensus Opinion

47. Bimodal Distribution
Abortion

48. Divisive Opinion

49. Normal Distribution
Political Ideology

50. Problems with Polls The Good Citizen Response The Bandwagon Effect
Inconsistent Responses
Survey Wording 29

52. Public Opinion, Political Knowledge and Ignorance
The lack of political knowledge and problems with polling weaken the validity of some polls
We know more now about the lack of political awareness 30

53. Public Opinion and Democracy: Do You Make a Difference?
Americans lack a sense of political efficacy (a feeling that they make difference in the way government works)
Is government responsive to public opinion? 31

54. The Citizens Role
The public must gather information and become knowledgeable
This can be done rather easily through an active media
The role of the media will be examined in the next chapter 32

56. PUBLIC OPINION PUBLIC OPINION
THE AGGREGATE OF ATTITUDES AND OPINIONS OF INDIVIDUALS ON ISSUES
SURVEY RESEARCH
GATHERING TECHINIQUE FOR COLLECTING DATA BY ASKING A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF THE POPULATION
PROBLEMS WITH COLLECTING DATA
HALO EFFECT
INCONSISTENCIES IN RESPONSES
INSTABILITY SINCE ITS “OFF THE CUFF”
SALIENCE SINCE ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT

57. OTHER FACTORS WHICH MAY LEAD TO VARIATION IN OPINION
GENDER AND OPINION
GENDER GAP REFERS TO A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN
RACE AND OPINION
DIFFERENCES IN OPINION CAN EXIST BETWEEN RACES

58. THE RIGHT TO VOTE SUFFRAGE IMPORTANT EVENTS
THE STRUGGLE FOR GROUPS TO GAIN THE LEGAL RIGHT TO VOTE
IMPORTANT EVENTS
ELIMINATION OF PROPERTY QUALIFICATIONS,
BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR, WHITE MALES OVER 21 YEARS OF AGE COULD VOTE
FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT, 1870
THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR BLACKS
THE NINETEENTH AMENDMENT, 1920
THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR WOMEN
THE TWENTY-SIXTH AMENDMENT, 1971
THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR 18 YEAR OLDS
THE NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION ACT, 1993
ENSURING PEOPLE HAVE THE CHANCE TO REGISTER AND TO STAY ON REGISTRATION LISTS ONCE THERE

59. VOTER TURNOUT TURNOUT THE RATIONAL VOTER VOTER REGISTRATION
THE NUMBER OF ACTUAL VOTERS IN RELATION TO THE NUMBER ELIGIBLE TO VOTE
THE RATIONAL VOTER
A VOTER MAY FEEL THAT HE OR SHE SHOULD VOTE IF THE VOTE WILL HAVE SOME MEASUREABLE IMPACT OR VALUE
VOTER REGISTRATION
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A “VOTING ID,” IS STILL PROBLEMATIC IN AMERICA

60. FIGHTING FOR VOTES THE STIMULUS OF COMPETITION POLITICAL ALIENATION
THE MORE LIVELY THE DEBATE BETWEEN PARTIES, THE MORE PARICIPATION IS DRUMMED UP
POLITICAL ALIENATION
DEVELOPING AN APATHY TOWARD POLITICS IN GENERAL
INTENSITY
ONE’S SOCIALIZATION EXPERIENCE HELPS INTENSIFY OR DIMINISH A PERSON’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS VOTING
EXPLAINING TURNOUT IN AMERICA
INCREASING DISTRUST OF SYSTEM
YOUNG PEOPLE TEND NOT TO VOTE
LACK OF STRONG POLITICAL MACHINERY WITHIN THE SYSTEM

61. ACTIVISM AND PROTEST CITIZEN ACTIVIST
PEOPLE WHOSE POLITICAL PARTICIPATION EXTENDS BEYOND VOTING TO OTHER POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
PROTESTING CALLS ATTENTION TO SOCIAL ISSUES, MOTIVATES OTHERS INTO ACTION, AND APPLIES PRESSURE ON PUBLIC OFFICIALS
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
A FORM OF PUBLIC PROTEST INVOLVING THE BREAKING OF LAWS BELIEVED TO BE UNJUST
VIOLENCE
ASSASSINATIONS, RIOTING, LOOTING, ETC.

62. Fundamental Values
Americans generally share the core values of liberty, equality and democracy
But note, that our understanding of what these values represent may differ
For example, we may disagree on what equality means 6

63. Forms of Disagreement
American public opinion, however, is characterized by vigorous debate on a wide range of political issues
For example, should there be limits on racist or sexist speech? 10