History, Philosophy of Public Opinion and Public Opinion Research
Forming Public Opinion
Transcript of Forming Public Opinion
Forming Public Opinion
Chapter 8 – Section 1
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What do you think were the most important issues to voters in 2012?
What is Public Opinion?
Global warming, abortion, gun rights, flag burning
How often do you hear phrases like this:
“The people want more regulation of banks” or “The people want stricter environmental standards for industries”?
The complex collection of opinions of many different people on matters of government & politics...
...is not the single and undivided view of all people
Support for
Gay Marriage
Public Opinion
Different Publics
There are many publics – too many to count
Some people have feelings for only certain issues (NRA) some have them for all issues...public affairs
Must be publicly expressed
What influences your attitudes towards government and politics?
Family & Education
political socialization – the process by which each person acquires political opinions. What are some factors?
race, income, occupation, residence, group affiliations
Family
Learn about politics through talking with family
Attitudes towards other races & religious groups
What TV shows they watch (news & entertainment)
(Father Ryan election, Father Ryan-reparations, Fox News inception)
Write down 5 of your favorite TV shows!
The following 5 slides are from scientific data that show how people tend to vote and how that is reflected in the TV shows/channels they watch.
Were any of your shows on there? Explain why some of the categorized shows make sense and others do not…
TOP LIBERAL DEMOCRAT SHOWS
TOP CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN SHOWS
1. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
2. The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)
3. Masterpiece (PBS)
4. 30 Rock (NBC)
5. Parks and Recreation (NBC)
6. The View (ABC)
7. Glee (Fox)
8. Modern Family (ABC)
9. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX)
10. Treme (HBO)
11. Cougar Town (ABC)
12. The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)
1. Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction(Speed)
2. This Old House (PBS)
3. The 700 Club (syndicated)
4. Swamp Loggers (Discovery)
5. Top Shot (History)
6. The Bachelor (ABC)
7. Castle (ABC)
8. New Yankee Workshop (PBS)
9. Mythbusters (Discovery)
10. Only in America w/ Larry the Cable Guy (History)
11. American Pickers (History)
12. Swamp People (History)
13. Wheel of Fortune (syndicated) 14. Top Gear (BBC America) 15. The Middle (ABC) 16. Pawn Stars (History) 17. The Tonight Show (NBC) 18. Antiques Roadshow (PBS) 19. The Biggest Loser (NBC) 20. Hawaii Five-O (CBS) 21. Dancing With the Stars, results show (ABC) 22. Man vs. Wild (Discovery) 23. Auction Kings (Discovery) 24. NCIS (CBS) 25. The Mentalist (CBS)
13. The Soup (E!) 14. The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS) 15. Aqua Teen Hunger Force (Adult Swim) 16. Outsourced (NBC) 17. Raising Hope (Fox) 18. Saturday Night Live (NBC) 19. The Office (NBC) 20. American Masters (PBS) 21. Project Runway (Lifetime) 22. United States of Tara (Showtime) 23. Shameless (Showtime) 24. Parenthood (NBC) 25. Conan (TBS)
Schools
Do you think schools should be allowed to have a political agenda?
Indoctrination by teachers to make them good citizens
Pledge of Allegiance, patriotic songs, government & U.S. History classes
Learning about different groups of people
What is the difference between socialization & indoctrination?
Other Factors
Mass Media
Which amendment protects the Mass Media?
Means of communication that reach a large audience
Newspapers, magazines, radio, internet, TV
In the U.S., most TVs are turned on for more than 8hrs a day.
In what ways are we dependent on media outlets?
What is a dying media outlet? Why is it in trouble?
Peer Groups
Made up of people with whom you regularly associate
Reinforces what someone has already come to believe (examples)
people do not like to be outcasts
Opinion Leaders
Any person who has an unusually strong influence on others
Use your phones and look up and list: 5 of the top liberal and 5 of the top conservative opinion leaders in today’s media.
Historic Events
The Great Depression...
Larger government (republican democrat)
After WWII – optimistic about the government (democrat domination)
60s – Vietnam, Civil Rights, political assassinations, Watergate
Less trust in the government
What significant event has changed our view towards foreign policy?