American Public Opinion: Its Origin, Content, and Impact

by Erikson, Robert S.; Tedin, Kent L.

• ISBN13: 9780205296965
• ISBN10: 0205296963
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-11-01
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Summary

American Public Opinion, Sixth Edition, provides the most comprehensive and readable treatment of public opinion and politics available. An in-depth analysis of public opinion, the text explores: public opinion's origins in political socialization; the impact of the media on public opinion; the relevance of public opinion to democratic values; political trust and social capital; and the role of public opinion for elections, political parties and interest groups. The Sixth Edition offers the most recent data and analysis of opinion on such contemporary issues as abortion, gun control, race relations, and health care. As in previous editions, the Sixth Edition examines the relationship between public opinion and policy. American Public Opinion is unique in that it goes beyond a simple presentation of data, and includes critical analysis of the integral role public opinion plays in American democracy.

Table of Contents

List of Figures and Tables	vi
Preface	xi
Credits for Figures and Tables	xiii
Public Opinion in Democratic Societies	1	(22)
Public Opinion and Government	1	(5)
Public Opinion Defined	6	(1)
The Evolution of the Public Opinion Poll	7	(4)
The Modern Public Opinion Poll and Its Political Consequences	11	(3)
Sources of Information on Public Opinion	14	(3)
Linkage Models Between Public Opinion and Public Policies	17	(3)
Plan of This Book	20	(3)
Polling: The Scientific Assessment of Public Opinion	23	(28)
Sampling	25	(9)
Question Wording	34	(5)
The Misuse of Surveys	39	(3)
Interpreting Scientific Surveys	42	(5)
Conclusion	47	(4)
Microlevel Opinion: The Psychology of Opinion-Holding	51	(31)
Political Attention and Opinion-Holding	53	(11)
Liberal-Conservative Ideology and the Organization of Opinions	64	(10)
Party Identification and the Organization of Political Opinions	74	(8)
Macrolevel Opinion: The Flow of Political Sentiment	82	(30)
Trends in Policy Opinions	83	(16)
General Ideological Movement	99	(1)
General Partisan Movement	100	(4)
Presidential Approval	104	(6)
Conclusion: What Moves Public Opinion?	110	(2)
Political Socialization and Political Learning	112	(30)
The Preadult Years: Socialization to Citizenship	112	(7)
The Agents of Preadult Socialization	119	(12)
Political Generations	131	(6)
The Persistence of Political Orientations	137	(2)
Conclusion	139	(3)
Public Opinion and Democratic Stability	142	(28)
Support for Democratic Values	143	(10)
Political consensus	153	(2)
Political Support: Trust and Efficacy	155	(7)
Personality and Public Opinion	162	(5)
Conclusion	167	(3)
Group Differences in Political Opinions	170	(38)
Socioeconomic Class and Political Opinions	170	(10)
Race and Political Opinions	180	(6)
Age and Political Opinions	186	(3)
Religion and Political Opinions	189	(8)
Geography and Political Opinions	197	(4)
Gender and Political Opinions	201	(4)
Conclusion	205	(3)
The Print and Broadcast Media and Political Opinions	208	(29)
The Mass Media and Their Political Content	209	(6)
Mass Media Influence on Public Opinion	215	(13)
Television and Election Campaigns	228	(7)
Conclusion	235	(2)
Elections as Instruments of Popular Control	237	(27)
Political Campaigns and the Voter	238	(6)
Policy Issues and Voters	244	(10)
Explaining Election Outcomes	254	(7)
Conclusion	261	(3)
The Public and Its Elected Representatives	264	(26)
Opinion Sharing Between Policymakers and the Public	264	(5)
Leadership Responsiveness to Public Opinion	269	(8)
How Elected Officials Learn Public Opinion	277	(6)
Do Elected Officials Need to Follow Public Opinion?	283	(5)
Conclusion	288	(2)
Parties and Interest Groups: Mediating Institutions and Representation	290	(23)
Political Parties and Representation	291	(12)
Interest Groups and Representation	303	(10)
Public Opinion and the Performance of Democracy	313	(12)
Assessing the Impact of Public Opinion on Policy	313	(7)
Interpreting the Public's Role in Democracy	320	(2)
The Expansion of Political Participation	322	(3)
Appendix	325	(6)
References	331	(38)
Index	369