POLI 2051 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Leading Question, Social Desirability Bias
Document Summary
Deinition: the collected attitudes of citizens on a given issue or question. Because in a democracy, there must be some link between what the public thinks and what the government does. The nature of that link can vary greatly. Should the public just periodically elect representatives, or should they actively engage in the policy-making process? (the delegate v. s. trustee distinction) Surveys show that people: are not very interested in politics, are ignorant of much that goes on politically, rely heavily on cues and shortcuts rather than informed issue positions. Two possibilities: we learn our behaviors and attitudes as we grow. Political socialization: a complex process through which individuals become aware of politics, learn political facts, and form political values. Important to remember that socialization occurs throughout our lives: generational effects: specific age group uniquely affected by a set of historical events (vietnam war, great.
