Chapter 11:

Public Opinion and Political Socialization

Public Opinion

Public Opinion Polls

            Measuring public opinion

                        Accurate measures

                        Margin of error

                        Bias

            Push Polls

            Commissioned Polls

            Purpose of Polls

                        Calling, canvassing, “self-selection”, deceit

Political Socialization

The Role of Family

            School and Peers

            High School and College

            Mass Media

                        Sources of mass media

                        Changes in Mass Media

                        The “echo chamber” effect;  Cherry picking

Social Groups

Religion

            Race and ethnicity

            Gender

            Age

            Region

Events

Events as confirmation of existing views

            Events that change views

            Events and view intensity

Political Ideology

Types of Ideology

            “coherence” of ideology

            Ideology and Interests

Political Ideology and Public Opinion about Government

Why we form Political Opinions

Personal Beliefs

            Political Knowledge

            Cues from Leaders

Measuring Public Opinion

Polling (straw polls)

            Content of questions

Wording

                        Ordering of question

                        Anonymity, “neighbor” effect

                        “push polling”

            Selecting the Sample

Stratified Sample

                        Random Sampling

                        Quota Sampling

                        Exit Polls

Problems with Polling

Sampling error -- Margin of error (Confidence intervals)

            Sampling Bias

                        Respondent Options

                        Lack of Information

                        Intensity

            Time issues

Effects of Polling

Do they reflect, or shape, beliefs?

            Do they create reality, or obscure it?