American Public Opinion: Its Origins, Content, and Impact (Update Edition)

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

• ISBN13: 9780321430199
• ISBN10: 0321430190
• Edition: 7th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-01-01
• Publisher: Longman

Summary

The updated seventh edition of American Public Opinion continues to go beyond a simple presentation of data to critically analyze the integral role public opinion plays in American democracy.

Table of Contents

List of Figures and Tables	ix
Credits for Figures and Tables	xiii
Preface	xvii
CHAPTER 1 Public Opinion in Democratic Societies	1	(23)
1-1 Public Opinion and Government	1	(6)
1-2 Public Opinion Defined	7	(1)
1-3 The Evolution of the Public Opinion Poll	8	(5)
1-4 The Modern Public Opinion Poll and Its Political Consequences	13	(2)
1-5 Sources of Information on Public Opinion	15	(3)
1-6 Linkage Models Between Public Opinion and Public Policies	18	(3)
1-7 Plan of This Book	21	(3)
CHAPTER 2 Polling: The Scientific Assessment of Public Opinion	24	(34)
2-1 The Value of Polls	24	(3)
2-2 Sampling	27	(11)
2-3 Question Wording	38	(5)
2-4 The Misuse of Surveys	43	(3)
2-5 Polls and Predicting Elections	46	(8)
2-6 Conclusion	54	(4)
CHAPTER 3 Microlevel Opinion: The Psychology of Opinion-Holding	58	(34)
3-1 Political Attention and Opinion-Holding	60	(12)
3-2 Liberal-Conservative Ideology and the Organization of Opinions	72	(11)
3-3 Party Identification and the Organization of Political Opinions	83	(9)
CHAPTER 4 Macrolevel Opinion: The Flow of Political Sentiment	92	(35)
4-1 The Micro Foundations of Macro Opinion	93	(2)
4-2 Trends in Policy Opinions	95	(19)
4-3 General Ideological Movement	114	(3)
4-4 General Partisan Movement	117	(2)
4-5 Presidential Approval	119	(6)
4-6 Conclusion: What Moves Public Opinion?	125	(2)
CHAPTER 5 Political Socialization and Political Learning	127	(35)
5-1 The Preadult Years: Socialization to Citizenship	127	(7)
5-2 The Agents of Preadult Socialization	134	(15)
5-3 Socialization During Adulthood	149	(7)
5-4 The Persistence of Political Orientations	156	(2)
5-5 Conclusion	158	(4)
CHAPTER 6 Public Opinion and Democratic Stability	162	(29)
6-1 Support for Democratic Values	163	(11)
6-2 Political Consensus	174	(2)
6-3 Political Support: Trust and Efficacy	176	(7)
6-4 Personality and Public Opinion	183	(5)
6-5 Conclusion	188	(3)
CHAPTER 7 Group Differences in Political Opinions	191	(37)
7-1 Socioeconomic Class and Political Opinions	191	(9)
7-2 Race and Political Opinions	200	(6)
7-3 Age and Political Opinions	206	(3)
7-4 Religion and Political Opinions	209	(7)
7-5 Geography and Political Opinions	216	(5)
7-6 Gender and Political Opinions	221	(4)
7-7 Conclusion	225	(3)
CHAPTER 8 The News Media and Political Opinions	228	(37)
8-1 The Evolution of the American Media	228	(8)
8-2 Bias and Negativity in the News	236	(8)
8-3 Models of Media Effects	244	(7)
8-4 Media Content and Political Opinions	251	(4)
8-5 The News Source and Comprehension	255	(2)
8-6 An Informed Electorate? Television News and Campaign Ads	257	(4)
8-7 Conclusion	261	(4)
CHAPTER 9 Elections as Instruments of Popular Control	265	(31)
9-1 Political Campaigns and the Voter	266	(6)
9-2 Policy Issues and Voters	272	(12)
9-3 Explaining Election Outcomes	284	(9)
9-4 Conclusion	293	(3)
CHAPTER 10 The Public and Its Elected Leaders	296	(29)
10-1 Opinion Sharing Between Policymakers and the Public	296	(4)
10-2 Political Parties and Representation	300	(9)
10-3 Leadership Responsiveness to Public Opinion	309	(6)
10-4 Do Elected Officials Need to Follow Public Opinion?	315	(4)
10-5 Interest Groups and Democratic Representation	319	(3)
10-5 Conclusion	322	(3)
CHAPTER 11 Public Opinion and the Performance of Democracy	325	(14)
11-1 Assessing the Impact of Public Opinion on Policy	325	(8)
11-2 Interpreting the Public's Role in Democracy	333	(2)
11-3 The Expansion of Political Participation	335	(4)
APPENDIX The National Election Study and the General Social Survey Questions	339	(6)
A-1 Questions from the National Election Studies	339
A-2 Questions from the General Social Survey	334	(11)
References	345	(34)
Index	379