Public OpinionPublic OpinionChapter 7Chapter 7

Public Opinion & Political Public Opinion & Political Socialization Socialization

Theme ATheme A

Why is public policy at Why is public policy at odds with public odds with public

opinion?opinion? Examples? Examples? Gov’t created to achieve goals, Gov’t created to achieve goals, NOTNOT do do

what people want.what people want. Checks & balances put in place to guard Checks & balances put in place to guard

against factions, so no one could against factions, so no one could dominate (Pluralist)dominate (Pluralist)

Public opinion is hard to measure.Public opinion is hard to measure. Political elites carry more weight & think Political elites carry more weight & think

differently than the average American.differently than the average American.

Public OpinionPublic Opinion What is it?What is it?

– The ideas and attitudes shared by a The ideas and attitudes shared by a portion of the populationportion of the population

What does it take to measure public What does it take to measure public opinion?opinion?– Reliability and validity (Ex. Cincinnati)Reliability and validity (Ex. Cincinnati)– Saliency (Ex.)Saliency (Ex.)– Unbiased questions (Ex.)Unbiased questions (Ex.)– Significant numbers & unbiased Significant numbers & unbiased

samplessamples– Informed public Informed public

Qualities of Public OpinionQualities of Public Opinion1.1. Intensity- strength of positionIntensity- strength of position2.2. Fluidity- ability to interpret positionFluidity- ability to interpret position3.3. Stability- extent to which public opinion Stability- extent to which public opinion

stays constantstays constant4.4. Relevance- extent to which an issue is of Relevance- extent to which an issue is of

concern at a particular timeconcern at a particular time5.5. Political knowledge- the more active and Political knowledge- the more active and

knowledgeable someone is about politicsknowledgeable someone is about politics6.6. Diversity-How do you get diverse sample?Diversity-How do you get diverse sample?7.7. Direction-positive or negativeDirection-positive or negative

Do Effects of Polling Sheet & Discuss!Do Effects of Polling Sheet & Discuss!

Discuss Project AssignmentDiscuss Project Assignment

Process:Process:– Word non-biased, open-ended questionWord non-biased, open-ended question– Determine polling locationsDetermine polling locations– Take down as many demographics as Take down as many demographics as

possiblepossible– Interpret results & informationInterpret results & information– Compile into a presentationCompile into a presentation– E-mail product or link to me no later than E-mail product or link to me no later than

8:00 p.m. on December 18:00 p.m. on December 1stst..– Presentations are 12/02-12/04 (if needed).Presentations are 12/02-12/04 (if needed).

Political SocializationPolitical Socialization

What is political socialization?What is political socialization?The process by which children The process by which children

learn about values, beliefs learn about values, beliefs and attitudes of political and attitudes of political culture.culture.

What forces shape our political What forces shape our political socialization?socialization?

Origins of Political Origins of Political SocializationSocialization

Role of Family-Role of Family- – First & most important force. First & most important force. – Links us to other socialization forces.Links us to other socialization forces.– Party identification absorbed, but child Party identification absorbed, but child

becomes more independent with age.becomes more independent with age.– The ability to pass on party ID decliningThe ability to pass on party ID declining– More consider themselves independentMore consider themselves independent– Children less influenced in regard to Children less influenced in regard to

policy; Clear ideologies rarely passed policy; Clear ideologies rarely passed on.on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHSYSIX4s7I

Origins of Political Origins of Political SocializationSocialization

Religion-Religion-– Political Socialization occurs through Political Socialization occurs through

religious traditionreligious tradition Catholic? More liberal on economic issues, Catholic? More liberal on economic issues,

conservative on social issuesconservative on social issues Protestants? More conservativeProtestants? More conservative Jews? More liberalJews? More liberal

– How does How does social statussocial status affect views? Ex.? affect views? Ex.?– How does How does religious tradition religious tradition affect views? affect views?

Ex?Ex?– How was the Christian Coalition different How was the Christian Coalition different

from the Moral Majority? Explain 2 ways.from the Moral Majority? Explain 2 ways.

Origins of Political Origins of Political SocializationSocialization

The Gender GapThe Gender Gap– Differences in the political views of men Differences in the political views of men

& women& women– Men increasingly identify with RepublicanMen increasingly identify with Republican– Women increasingly vote DemocraticWomen increasingly vote Democratichttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0evtKKQcaDADemographics to illustrate!

– Reasons?Reasons? Gun control, poverty spending, gay rightsGun control, poverty spending, gay rights

– Gender gap not unique to the USGender gap not unique to the US

Gender Gap in 2012 Vote Is Largest in Gallup's HistoryObama wins women's vote; Romney has eight-point edge among men

by Jeffrey M. Jones

President Barack Obama won President Barack Obama won the two-party vote among the two-party vote among female voters in the 2012 female voters in the 2012 election by 12 points, 56% to election by 12 points, 56% to 44%, over Republican 44%, over Republican challenger Mitt Romney. challenger Mitt Romney. Meanwhile, Romney won Meanwhile, Romney won among men by an eight-point among men by an eight-point margin, 54% to 46%. That margin, 54% to 46%. That total 20-point gender gap is the total 20-point gender gap is the largest Gallup has measured largest Gallup has measured in a presidential election since in a presidential election since it began compiling the vote by it began compiling the vote by major subgroups in 1952.major subgroups in 1952.