Public Opinion and Socialization

Public Opinion and Socialization PUBLIC OPINION The study of public opinion aims to understand distribution of the population’s beliefs about politics and policy issues. Diversity makes the study of public opinion complex because of the variety of opinions-thus a variety of publics. The task is further complicated by the fact that people are often not well informed about the issues, and they may have contradictory attitudes .

PUBLIC OPINION

The study of public opinion aims to understand distribution of the population’s beliefs about politics and policy issues.

Diversity makes the study of public opinion complex because of the variety of opinions-thus a variety of publics.

The task is further complicated by the fact that people are often not well informed about the issues, and they may have contradictory attitudes .

How do Americans Learn about Politics which in turn forms “public opinion?: Political Socialization Politics is a lifelong activity Aging increases your political participation and the strength of your party attachment. Political behavior is to some degree learned behavior. Governments largely aim their socialization efforts at the young because one’s political orientations grow firmer as one becomes more socialized with age.

Politics is a lifelong activity

Aging increases your political participation and the strength of your party attachment.

Political behavior is to some degree learned behavior.

Governments largely aim their socialization efforts at the young because one’s political orientations grow firmer as one becomes more socialized with age.

POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION

ONGOING, LIFE-LONG PROCESS: ACQUISITION OF INFORMATION, BELIEFS, ATTITUDES, AND VALUES POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION

POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION HELPS US COMPREHEND THE POLITICAL SYSTEM HELPS US LEARN TO BE CITIZENS (MEMBERS OF A POLITICAL SOCIETY)

HELPS US COMPREHEND THE POLITICAL SYSTEM

HELPS US LEARN TO BE CITIZENS (MEMBERS OF A POLITICAL SOCIETY)

AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION PEOPLE & INSTITUTIONS WE COME IN CONTACT WITH THAT INFLUENCE OUR BELIEFS

PEOPLE & INSTITUTIONS WE COME IN CONTACT WITH THAT INFLUENCE OUR BELIEFS

AGENT #1- THE FAMILY HOW DOES FAMILY INFLUENCE OUR BELIEFS?

FAMILY HAS STRONGEST INFLUENCE ON PARTY I.D.

AGENT #2- SCHOOLS & EDUCATION HOW DOES THE EDUCATION WE RECEIVE IMPACT ON OUR POLITICAL VIEWS?

HOW DOES THE EDUCATION WE RECEIVE IMPACT ON OUR POLITICAL VIEWS?

STUDIES SHOW THE MORE FORMAL EDUCATION ONE RECEIVES, THE MORE KNOWLEDGE OF ISSUES AND EVENTS, THE MORE LIKELY TO PARTICIPATE

STUDIES SHOW THE MORE FORMAL EDUCATION ONE RECEIVES, THE MORE KNOWLEDGE OF ISSUES AND EVENTS, THE MORE LIKELY TO PARTICIPATE

AGENT #3- RELIGION HOW DOES RELIGIOUS DOCTRINE IMPACT ON OUR POLITICAL VIEWS?

SOCIAL STATUS THEORY CATHOLICS & JEWS ORIGINALLY POOR & DISCRIMINATED, ATTACHED TO MORE LIBERAL SOCIAL DOCTRINE

AGENT #4- PEERS DO YOU & YOUR FRIENDS DISCUSS ISSUES?

STUDIES SHOW WHEN PEERS ENGAGE IN POLITICAL DISCUSSION, POLITICAL ATTITUDES ARE FORMED AND SOLIDIFIED

AGENT #5- MASS MEDIA

MOST GET INFORMATION FROM TELEVISION PEOPLE TEND TO GRAVITATE TOWARDS MEDIA THAT MATCHES THEIR VIEWS (SELECTIVE ATTENTION)

MOST GET INFORMATION

FROM TELEVISION

PEOPLE TEND TO

GRAVITATE TOWARDS

MEDIA THAT MATCHES

THEIR VIEWS

(SELECTIVE ATTENTION)

AGENT #6-SECONDARY GROUPS

- PEOPLE ARE ATTRACTED TO GROUPS WITH SIMILAR VIEWS - GROUPS SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN PARTY I.D. -GROUPS HELP INSPIRE POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

AGENT #7-RACE, GENDER & ETHNICITY

12.5 35,305,818 Hispanic or Latino 2.4 6,826,228 Two or more races 5.5 15,359,073 Some other race 0.1% 398,835 Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander 3.6 10,242,998 Asian 0.9 2,475,956 American Indian and Alaska Native 12.3 34,658,190 Black or African American 75.1 211,460,626 White 100.0% 281,421,906 Total population % of population Total population

AFRICAN AMERICANS OVERWHELMINGLY DEMOCRAT ASIAN AMERICANS IDENTIFY MORE WITH REPUBLICANS LATINOS MORE DEMOCRATIC

AFRICAN AMERICANS

OVERWHELMINGLY

DEMOCRAT

ASIAN AMERICANS

IDENTIFY MORE WITH

REPUBLICANS

LATINOS MORE

DEMOCRATIC

AGENT #8- REGION

SOUTH TRADITIONALLY MORE CONSERVATIVE, ANTI-ORGANIZED LABOR, LOWER VOTER TURNOUT WHITE SOUTHERNERS LESS ATTACHED TO DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAN THEY USED TO

SOUTH TRADITIONALLY

MORE CONSERVATIVE,

ANTI-ORGANIZED LABOR,

LOWER VOTER TURNOUT

WHITE SOUTHERNERS

LESS ATTACHED TO

DEMOCRATIC PARTY

THAN THEY USED TO

AGENT #9- EVENTS

PEOPLE FORM OPINIONS BASED ON WAY EVENTS ARE COMMUNICATED AND COVERED BY MEDIA HOW GOVT. RESPONDS ALSO HAS A BIG INFLUENCE

PEOPLE FORM OPINIONS

BASED ON WAY EVENTS

ARE COMMUNICATED AND

COVERED BY MEDIA

HOW GOVT. RESPONDS

ALSO HAS A BIG

INFLUENCE

What is Public Opinion and how do we measure it? PUBLIC OPINION Public opinion is the distribution of people’s beliefs about politics and policy issues. Rarely is there a single public opinion.

PUBLIC OPINION

Public opinion is the distribution of people’s beliefs about politics and policy issues.

Rarely is there a single public opinion.

Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information MEASURING PUBLIC OPINION Polling is a way to measure public opinion, the first poll was developed by George Gallop in 1932. Polls rely on samples of the population (relatively small proportion who are chose as a representative of the whole)

MEASURING PUBLIC OPINION

Polling is a way to measure public opinion, the first poll was developed by George Gallop in 1932.

Polls rely on samples of the population (relatively small proportion who are chose as a representative of the whole)

Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information Samples usually include about 1500-2000 people can be representative of what pollsters call a universe (the larger group whose opinion is being measured) of potential voters.

Samples usually include about 1500-2000 people can be representative of what pollsters call a universe (the larger group whose opinion is being measured) of potential voters.

Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information MEASURING PUBLIC OPINION The key to the accuracy of opinion polls is random sampling which operates on the idea that everyone should have an equal probability of being selected. Always a risk of sampling errors .

MEASURING PUBLIC OPINION

The key to the accuracy of opinion polls is random sampling which operates on the idea that everyone should have an equal probability of being selected.

Always a risk of sampling errors .

Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information MEASURING PUBLIC OPINION CONTINUED… Computer and telephone technology have made surveying less expensive and more commonplace. Most polls are done through random digit dialing in which calls are place to telephone number with randomly chosen exchanges.

MEASURING PUBLIC OPINION CONTINUED…

Computer and telephone technology have made surveying less expensive and more commonplace.

Most polls are done through random digit dialing in which calls are place to telephone number with randomly chosen exchanges.

Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information THE ROLL OF POLLS Supports say they are tools for democracy-allowing policymakers to keep in touch with changing opinions on issues. Critics say they make politicians more concerned with following rather than leading. Some say polls weaken democracy because they permit government to “think” that they have taken public opinion into account when only passive (often ill-informed) opinions have been counted.

THE ROLL OF POLLS

Supports say they are tools for democracy-allowing policymakers to keep in touch with changing opinions on issues.

Critics say they make politicians more concerned with following rather than leading.

Some say polls weaken democracy because they permit government to “think” that they have taken public opinion into account when only passive (often ill-informed) opinions have been counted.

Polls can be Misleading-some problems with polls Problems with the wording-what were the exact words used? Did you have to pay to participate? Can you control for how many times someone got to respond (internet surveys, over the phone-when they ask YOU to call) The survey is too long The survey is looking for snap judgments (yes/no-when more is needed) The time of day the poll was taken (who is home during the day?) Current events affect decisions made on each day. “How do you feel about terrorism the day after 9/11”? Who paid for the poll? Why is the poll being done? What area, region, state, or group did you poll? (teachers, doctors, lawyers)

Problems with the wording-what were the exact words used?

Did you have to pay to participate?

Can you control for how many times someone got to respond (internet surveys, over the phone-when they ask YOU to call)

The survey is too long

The survey is looking for snap judgments (yes/no-when more is needed)

The time of day the poll was taken (who is home during the day?)

Current events affect decisions made on each day. “How do you feel about terrorism the day after 9/11”?

Who paid for the poll?

Why is the poll being done?

What area, region, state, or group did you poll? (teachers, doctors, lawyers)

Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information THE ROLL OF POLLS Polls can distort the election process by creating a bandwagon effect in which voters may support a candidate only because they see others doing so. Emphasis on poll results has sometimes drown out the issues of the campaigns. The election day exit poll is probably the most criticized type of poll. Polls can be misleading (problems with the wording, you have to pay to participate, survey is too long, survey is looking for snap judgments when more is necessary,

THE ROLL OF POLLS

Polls can distort the election process by creating a bandwagon effect in which voters may support a candidate only because they see others doing so.

Emphasis on poll results has sometimes drown out the issues of the campaigns.

The election day exit poll is probably the most criticized type of poll.

Polls can be misleading (problems with the wording, you have to pay to participate, survey is too long, survey is looking for snap judgments when more is necessary,

Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information WHAT POLLS REVEAL ABOUT AMERICAN’S POLITICAL INFORMATION We have a low level of political knowledge! Part of the reason our system works is the fact that people DO know what basic values they want upheld even when they don’t know about policy questions or decision makers. Unfortunately, increased levels of education over the last 4 decades have scarcely raised public knowledge about politics.

WHAT POLLS REVEAL ABOUT AMERICAN’S POLITICAL INFORMATION

We have a low level of political knowledge!

Part of the reason our system works is the fact that people DO know what basic values they want upheld even when they don’t know about policy questions or decision makers.

Unfortunately, increased levels of education over the last 4 decades have scarcely raised public knowledge about politics.