Transcript Chapter Six - GEOCITIES.ws

Political Science
American Government and Politics
Chapter 6
Public Opinion
Public Opinion
• the aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs
shared by some portion of the adult
population
– there is no one public opinion because there are many
different “publics”
• Consensus opinions – when there is general
agreement among the citizenry on an issue
• Divisive opinions – when public opinion is
polarized between two quite different
positions
6-1
Consensus Opinion
6-2
Divisive Opinion
6-3
Nonopinion
6-4
Qualities of Public Opinion
• Intensity – the strength of a position for or against
an issue
– intense opinions are often critical in generating public
action
– an intense minority often can win on issue over a less
intense majority
• Fluidity – the extent to which public opinion
changes over time
• Stability – the extent to which public opinion
remains constant over a period of time
6-5
Qualities of Public Opinion (cont.)
• Relevance – the extent to which an issue is
of concern as a particular time
– issues become relevant when they are viewed
as of direct concern to daily life
• Political knowledge – the extent to which
individuals are aware of an issue
6-5b
Aspects of Polling Techniques
• simple random sample – each member of the
population has an equal chance of being selected
for the sample
• quota sample – a less accurate technique wherein
polling organizations predetermine the
characteristics of the needed sample, and then find
respondents with those characteristics to fill the
slots
• sampling error – the difference between a sample’s
results and the result if the entire population had
been interviewed
6-6
What is Political Socialization?
– the process by which individuals acquire
political beliefs and attitudes
• How are Americans socialized?
– Family
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the most important force in socialization
links us to other forces of socialization
parents communicate preferences to children
children want to please parents and are receptive to
their views
• demonstrated the most in consistency in party
identification
6-7
What is Political Socialization?
(cont.)
• Education
– learn patriotism, structure of government and
how to form positions on issues
– more the education a person has, the more
likely he or she will be interested in politics
• Peers
– most likely to shape political opinions when
peer groups are politically active
6-7b
What is Political Socialization?
(cont.)
• Religious Influence
– religious groups are likely to transmit definite
political preferences
• Roman Catholics  liberal
• Protestants  conservative
• Jewish  liberal
6-7c
How are Americans socialized?
• Economic Status and Occupation
– poorer people  more inclined to favor socialwelfare programs, more isolationist
– richer people  more tolerant of social change,
conservative economically
6-8
How are Americans socialized?
(cont.)
• Influence of Political Events
– events impact people’s political attitudes
– when the effect of an event is long-lasting and
impacts the preferences of those who came of
age at that time, it is called a generational effect
• Examples include the Great Depression, World War
II and the Vietnam War
6-8b
How are Americans socialized?
(cont.)
• Opinion Leaders’ Influence
– leaders sometimes influence the opinions of
others
• Media Influence
– newspapers, t.v., radio and the Internet
influence public opinion
• through agenda setting
• by shaping opinions
6-8c
How are Americans socialized?
(cont.)
• Demographic Traits
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–
–
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African Americans  liberal
whites  comparatively conservative
younger adults  liberal
older adults  comparatively conservative
• The Gender Gap – the difference between the
percentage of votes a candidates receives from
women versus from men
– women tend to vote more Democrat
– men tend to vote more Republican
6-8d
Most Important Problem Trend, 1975 to Present
6-9
Ideology and Public Opinion
• Liberal ideology
– endorse national government solutions to public
problems
– support social-welfare programs to help the
disadvantaged
– government should intervene to ensure the economy
runs smoothly
– support social change
– support women’s rights
– support civil rights
– oppose increased defense spending
6-10
Ideology and Public Opinion
(cont.)
• Conservative ideology
– national government has grown too large
– national government should not interfere with private
sector
– social welfare programs should be limited
– state and local governments should be able to make
their own decisions
– national defense should be strengthened
– support traditional values
– oppose gay rights
6-10b
Ideological Self-identification, 1976 to Present
6-11