Post on 27-Mar-2015
Public Opinion and Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Political Socialization:
Shaping the People’s VoiceShaping the People’s Voice
Chapter 6Chapter 6
The Nature of Public OpinionThe Nature of Public Opinion
Public opinion: opinions of citizens that are Public opinion: opinions of citizens that are openly statedopenly stated
How informed is public opinion?How informed is public opinion?
Selective political interestsSelective political interests
Quality of services vs. costQuality of services vs. cost
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The Nature of Public OpinionThe Nature of Public Opinion
How informed is public opinion?How informed is public opinion?
Well-informed vs. misinformedWell-informed vs. misinformed
Objective opinions vs. subjective opinionsObjective opinions vs. subjective opinions
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The measurement of public opinionThe measurement of public opinion
Measures public opinion using sample(s)Measures public opinion using sample(s)
Samples Samples estimation of population’s views estimation of population’s views
Population: citizens of a nation or groupPopulation: citizens of a nation or group
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The Nature of Public OpinionThe Nature of Public Opinion
Problems with PollsProblems with Polls
Sampling errorSampling error
Poorly worded questionsPoorly worded questions
Non-opinionsNon-opinions
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The Nature of Public OpinionThe Nature of Public Opinion
Political Socialization:Political Socialization:How Americans Learn Their PoliticsHow Americans Learn Their Politics
Political socialization processPolitical socialization process
Childhood learning is paramountChildhood learning is paramount
Process is cumulativeProcess is cumulative
Young more likely than old to switch partiesYoung more likely than old to switch parties
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Political Socialization:Political Socialization:How Americans Learn Their PoliticsHow Americans Learn Their Politics
Political socialization agentsPolitical socialization agentsFamilyFamilyMediaMediaSchoolsSchoolsPeersPeersPolitical institutions and leadersPolitical institutions and leadersReligious institutionsReligious institutions
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Frames of Reference: How Frames of Reference: How Americans Think PoliticallyAmericans Think Politically
Cultural thinking: common ideasCultural thinking: common ideas
Ideological thinking: the outlook of someIdeological thinking: the outlook of someLiberalLiberalConservativeConservativePopulistsPopulistsLibertariansLibertarians
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Frames of Reference: How Frames of Reference: How Americans Think PoliticallyAmericans Think Politically
Group thinking: outlook of manyGroup thinking: outlook of manyReligionReligionClassClassRegionRegionRace and ethnicityRace and ethnicityGenderGenderAgeAgeCrosscutting cleavagesCrosscutting cleavages
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Frames of Reference: How Frames of Reference: How Americans Think PoliticallyAmericans Think Politically
Partisan thinking: line that dividesPartisan thinking: line that divides
Party identification Party identification emotional loyalty to a emotional loyalty to a political partypolitical party
Identification is stable and seldom changes over Identification is stable and seldom changes over timetime
Leads to subjective opinions about new issuesLeads to subjective opinions about new issues
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Influence of Public Opinion on PolicyInfluence of Public Opinion on Policy
Public opinion guides elected officials’ actionsPublic opinion guides elected officials’ actions
Public opinionPublic opinionCan become an issue in an electionCan become an issue in an electionCan be changedCan be changedCan be activatedCan be activatedCan be crystallized Can be crystallized
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