POLS 34102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Big Data, Social Desirability Bias, Push Poll
29 Jun 2018
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CH 06 OUTLINE
Defining Public Opinion
1. Public opinion is the term used to denote citizens' attitudes about political issues, leaders,
institutions, and events. Values (or beliefs) are a person's basic orientation to politics. Political
ideology refers to a complex set of beliefs and values that, as a whole, form a general philosophy
about government.
2. While most Americans share a common set of values, including the principles of liberty,
equality, and democracy, these political values have not always been practiced.
3. Many Americans describe themselves as either liberal or conservative in political orientation,
with most describing themselves as moderates who have shades of both ideologies.
4. Within each ideological group, individual beliefs often vary; members of both parties often
subscribe to or maintain policies put in place by the opposing party. Candidates who claim to be
moderates often overlap with the ideologies of the majority of Americans, improving their electoral
success.
5. Very low trust in government is a defining feature of contemporary American politics.
How We Form Political Opinions
1. The processes that form political beliefs and values are collectively called political socialization.
Agents of socialization including family and social networks, membership in social groups, party
affiliation, education, self-interest, and political environment foster differences in political
perspectives.
2. Most people acquire their initial orientation to politics from their families.
3. Education is another important source of political perspectives, with differences in formal
education strongly associated with differences in political opinions.
4. Social groups, whether by birth or by choice, also have in impact on political opinion.
5. The linked fate phenomenon can act as a filter through which black AmericansAmericans who
share a race evaluate information and determine their own opinions and policy preferences.
6. Ethnicity also effects policy attitudes, especially on such issues as immigration.
7. The gender gap refers to a distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the differences in
views between women and men.
8. Religion is important in understanding opinions on same-sex marriage, abortion rights,
marriage, gambling, and home schooling.
9. Members of political parties rely on party leaders and the media for cues on the appropriate
positions to take on major political issues.
10. Education Economic class is one of the most important factors in predicting who engages in
behaviors that increase political knowledge.also shapes political opinions, though voters' economic
self-interest does not always march lock step with their policy preferences.
11. The content and character of one's political beliefs are largely determined by political
circumstances.
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