Public Opinion and Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Political Socialization:

Shaping the People’s VoiceShaping the People’s Voice

Chapter 6Chapter 6

The Nature of Public OpinionThe Nature of Public Opinion

Public opinion: opinions of citizens that are Public opinion: opinions of citizens that are openly statedopenly stated

How informed is public opinion?How informed is public opinion?

Selective political interestsSelective political interests

Quality of services vs. costQuality of services vs. cost

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The Nature of Public OpinionThe Nature of Public Opinion

How informed is public opinion?How informed is public opinion?

Well-informed vs. misinformedWell-informed vs. misinformed

Objective opinions vs. subjective opinionsObjective opinions vs. subjective opinions

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The measurement of public opinionThe measurement of public opinion

Measures public opinion using sample(s)Measures public opinion using sample(s)

Samples Samples estimation of population’s views estimation of population’s views

Population: citizens of a nation or groupPopulation: citizens of a nation or group

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The Nature of Public OpinionThe Nature of Public Opinion

Problems with PollsProblems with Polls

Sampling errorSampling error

Poorly worded questionsPoorly worded questions

Non-opinionsNon-opinions

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The Nature of Public OpinionThe Nature of Public Opinion

Political Socialization:Political Socialization:How Americans Learn Their PoliticsHow Americans Learn Their Politics

Political socialization processPolitical socialization process

Childhood learning is paramountChildhood learning is paramount

Process is cumulativeProcess is cumulative

Young more likely than old to switch partiesYoung more likely than old to switch parties

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Political Socialization:Political Socialization:How Americans Learn Their PoliticsHow Americans Learn Their Politics

Political socialization agentsPolitical socialization agentsFamilyFamilyMediaMediaSchoolsSchoolsPeersPeersPolitical institutions and leadersPolitical institutions and leadersReligious institutionsReligious institutions

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Frames of Reference: How Frames of Reference: How Americans Think PoliticallyAmericans Think Politically

Cultural thinking: common ideasCultural thinking: common ideas

Ideological thinking: the outlook of someIdeological thinking: the outlook of someLiberalLiberalConservativeConservativePopulistsPopulistsLibertariansLibertarians

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Frames of Reference: How Frames of Reference: How Americans Think PoliticallyAmericans Think Politically

Group thinking: outlook of manyGroup thinking: outlook of manyReligionReligionClassClassRegionRegionRace and ethnicityRace and ethnicityGenderGenderAgeAgeCrosscutting cleavagesCrosscutting cleavages

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Frames of Reference: How Frames of Reference: How Americans Think PoliticallyAmericans Think Politically

Partisan thinking: line that dividesPartisan thinking: line that divides

Party identification Party identification emotional loyalty to a emotional loyalty to a political partypolitical party

Identification is stable and seldom changes over Identification is stable and seldom changes over timetime

Leads to subjective opinions about new issuesLeads to subjective opinions about new issues

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Influence of Public Opinion on PolicyInfluence of Public Opinion on Policy

Public opinion guides elected officials’ actionsPublic opinion guides elected officials’ actions

Public opinionPublic opinionCan become an issue in an electionCan become an issue in an electionCan be changedCan be changedCan be activatedCan be activatedCan be crystallized Can be crystallized

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