Voting and Opinion Forming 11/7/2011. Clearly Communicated Learning Objectives in Written Form Upon...
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Transcript of Voting and Opinion Forming 11/7/2011. Clearly Communicated Learning Objectives in Written Form Upon...
Clearly Communicated Learning Objectives in Written Form
• Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:– discuss and critically analyze political events in the
United States government– identify and explain the role of formal and
informal institutions and their effect on policy. – assess the 2010 and 2012 elections without
resorting to partisan bickering.
Office Hours and Readings
• Chapter 5• Chapter 4 (110-129)
• Office Hours– Tuesday 8-10:30– Wednesday 8-9
What is Political Opinion
• those opinions held by private persons which governments find it prudent to heed -- V.O. Key
• Why do politicians Follow it?
Political Socialization
• The process of learning about political issues and forming opinions
• How we learn about politics
• Same as religion, culture and language.
Why Family is Important
• Socio-economic status
• Primacy Principle
• Structuring Principle
• It Ebbs as we get older
The First Things We Learn
• Little kids confuse political and religious authority
• The Flag is Good
Off To College
• The Percentage of people going to college continues to rise
• College often correlates with parents SES
The Role of Peers
• Often Reinforce our Parents views
• We do not tend to discuss politics
• Our friends often share our SES and values
The Mass Media and Political Socialization
• We Receive a lot of information
• Not all of it sticks
• Those who could learn the most, watch the least
America is Obsessed with Polling
• Why Polls– Raise issues– Gauge support– Get specific opinions
• Everyone Uses them– Candidates– Media– Elected officials
What is Sampling?
• selecting a representative part of a population
• To determine parameters of the whole population.
How Can a Survey of 1000 People Represent 200 Million?
• Responses Cancel each other out
• No New opinions are added
Self Selected Samples
• People Choose to Be in the Sample
• Certain people have much more incentive to participate
• Call-in, internet, text
Poorly Designed Samples
• 10 million ballots distributed
• 2.2 Million Responses
• Alf Landon Will defeat FDR (by a landslide)
A Bad Question
If you had to make up the SEU Budget, and could only keep one of the following activities which of the items would you keep?a. Faculty Lunch Colloquiumb. Expanded Library Hoursc. Reduced Parking Rates for International Studentsd. Discounted tickets for Topper Club members
Liars
• Socially Acceptable Questions
• Always Remember Homer Simpson's Code of the Schoolyard– Don't tattle – Always make fun of those different from you. – Never say anything, unless you're sure everyone
feels exactly the same way you do.
Do they Listen?
• Government responds to opinion 2/3 of the time
• Sometimes they do not listen to public opinion
Why Not?
• General vs. Intense opinion
• Voting vs general public
• Opinion is only one form of participation