Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning PUBLIC OPINION AND POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION Chapter Six Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Learning Outcomes 1. Define public opinion and identify at least two ways public opinion impacts government actions. 2. Evaluate how the political socialization process shapes political attitudes, opinions, and behavior; explain how demographic characteristics impact political behavior. 2 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Learning Outcomes 3. Describe three forms of social media and explain how social media can shape political decisions or events. 4. Identify three factors that might distort public opinion results collected through opinion polling. 5. Assess the impact that world opinion of the United States has on the governments domestic and foreign policy decisions. 3 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Defining Public Opinion Public opinion: aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs shared by some portion of the adult population Types: Consensus Divisive opinion Nonopinion 4 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Consensus Opinion 5 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Divisive Opinion 6 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Nonopinion 7 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Defining Public Opinion 8 Public opinion and policymaking Sometimes difficult to assess public opinion Policymakers generally responsive, especially when opinion changes dramatically Can serve to set limits on government Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning How Public Opinion Is Formed: Political Socialization Models of political socialization Family Education Peers and peer group Opinion leaders Political change 9 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning How Public Opinion Is Formed: Political Socialization Impact of the media Agenda-setting effect Political forum for leaders and public Managed news Influence of political events Life cycle effect Generational effect (cohort effect) 10 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Political Preferences and Voting Behavior Demographic Influences Education Economic status Religious influence: Denomination Religiosity Race and ethnicity Gender Geographic region 11 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Votes by Groups in Presidential Elections, (in Percentages) 12 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Political Preferences and Voting Behavior 13 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Gender Gap in Presidential Elections, Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning The Purple Election Map 15 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Measuring Public Opinion The history of opinion polls Straw polls or mail surveys (1800s) Subscriber questionnaires (early 20 th century) Gallup and Roper polls (mid-20 th century) Improved sampling and scientific methods (1950s and beyond) 16 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Measuring Public Opinion Sampling Techniques Representative sampling Most important principle is randomness Every person should have known chance, and especially an equal chance, of being sampled Small sample should be representative if scientific procedures followed Quota sampling (less accurate) 17 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Measuring Public Opinion Problems with polls Sampling errors Poll questions Push polls 18 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Technology, Public Opinion and the Political Process Public opinion and the political process Politicians see as important to success Elected officials see as source of power But not equivalent to elections 19 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Technology, Public Opinion and the Political Process Political culture and public opinion Common American political culture shared by diverse populace Most important values: Liberty, equality and property Support for religious freedom Community service and personal achievement Political trust and support for political system varies 20 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Reaction to How the Nation Is Being Governed 21 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Technology, Public Opinion and the Political Process Public opinion about government Ambivalence about many institutions Declining confidence Public emphasizes immediate problems (economy) more than long-term ones (crime) Views about political process affect countrys ability to deal with challenges and resolve conflicts 22 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Perceived Most Important Problem Facing the U.S. 23 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Polling Issues? 24