This document summarizes research on public opinion, political attitudes, ideology, and their relationship to policymaking. It discusses key concepts like opinion and attitude, approaches to studying public opinion, and factors that shape views like social characteristics, ideology, values, and economic development. Major research from the 1950s-60s is summarized, including the Columbia and Michigan studies on social influence on views. The document also discusses how public opinion directly influences policymaking, but policy can also shape opinions over time through feedback effects. In conclusion, public opinion is multifaceted and can inform better policymaking when various shaping factors are considered.

1. Public Opinion, Political
Attitudes, and Ideology
David L. Weakliem
Bettina Adalin
Roy Vincent B. Guardados

2. Public Opinion
Osborne and Rose:
the aggregate view held by
the entire adult population
Blumer:
views and positions on the
issue that come to the
individuals who have to act

3. Before 12th century
public opinion was
used as:
(2) opinions of public-
spirited persons
(1) opinions of
knowledgeable persons
(3) opinions that were
expressed publicly

4. Political Attitudes
Erikson and Tedin:
predispositions that underlie
specific opinions
Note: In this chapter, no
distinction between opinions
and attitudes

5. Ideology
Mannheim:
entire categories of thought
and ways of thinking that
color how actors see the
world around them

6. Values
Rockeach:
qualities that a person
regards as desirable and
important

7. Approaches to Public Opinion
Research
SOCIOLOGICAL
• Individual level:
- Politics reflect social
conditions and
processes
- Social characteristics
determine political
preference.
POLITICAL
• Individual level:
– Politics and political
thought are
autonomous
• Societal level:
- Societal conditions
affect political
opinions
• Societal level:
- Institutional factors
affect political
opinions

8. 1950s and 1960s Research
(2) Michigan Studies
(3) Social Cleavages
(1) Columbia Studies

9. Columbia Studies
Social interaction is important in
shaping political alignments.
Berelson, Lazasfeld, and McPhee

10. 1940 Presidential Campaign
Routine personal contact with
family, neighbours, co-
workers and other
acquaintances had
predominant influence,
instead.
Campaign had little effects on
voting choices.

11. Michigan Studies
Campbell, Converse, Miller, and
Stokes:
“the concepts important to
ideological analysis are useful
only for that small segment of the
population that is equipped to
approach political decisions at a
rarefied level”

12. Michigan Studies
Converese:
Considered ideology in terms of
“attitude constraint” or the
correlations among different
political opinions.
People approached different
issues in a piecemeal fashion
rather than applying a general
philosophy.

13. Social Cleavages
“cross pressures:”
some people might follow their
class or religion, avoid at some
compromise or avoid politics
entirely
Public opinion would be
influenced by the composition of
the population and pattern of
contact among groups.

14. Social Cleavages
Interclass contact:
has more influence on the lower
class because upper class has
greater prestige and resources
Intraclass contact:
exchange of political information
and opinions is greater among the
upper class

15. Economic Development and
Public Opinion
Inglehart:
Affluence is usually associated
with liberal views:
(1) more tolerant of differences in
religion and lifestyle
(2) increased acceptance of gender
equality
(3) less respect for traditional
authority

16. Economic Development and
Public Opinion
Inglehart:
As material needs are satisfied,
people pay more attention to
“postmaterial” concerns:
(1) freedom
(2) aesthetics
(4) self-esteem
(3) sense of belonging

17. Ideology and Framing
Luskin, Fishkin and Jowell:
“deliberative poll”
ordinary people are able to
critically evaluate new information
and arguments – they do not simply
adhere to their prior beliefs or
adopts the views of a trusted
authority

18. Framing
An angle or perspective of a
problem.

22. Schemas
Kulklinski, Luskin and
Bolland:
Not just a set of beliefs, but
also includes rules for
processing new information
and arguments

23. Public Opinion and Policy
Burstein:
Public opinion has a direct
effect on policy.
Public Opinion shapes the Policies.

24. SPEED LIMIT
Speed Limit: 10 Kph.
That’s way
too slow!Okay, I’ll change it
to 30Khp.

25. Public Opinion and Policy
It affects most types of
policy, although there may
be some difference in the
strength of influence.

26. Public Opinion and Policy
Blumer:
public opinion
“views and
positions on
the issue that
come to the
individuals
who have to
act.”
Legalization of Marijuana
Ateneo De Davao University
60%
Agreed
40%
Disagreed
RESULT OF
THE
SURVEY

27. Policy Feedback
A policy could
lead the public to
redefine their
interests and
identities in ways
that undermine,
enhance, or alter
the bases of
support for that
policy.
Example:
Redefining Interest:
From: Driving Fast
To: Thinking for Safety

28. Policy Feedback
The idea of policy feedback
is connected to the vague
concept of political
“coalitions”
(1) a coalition is a collection of groups that gives
relatively high support to a party or policy; a group of
people who regarded themselves as sharing basic
interests
(3) they will support even if they derive not
immediate benefits

29. Russian LGBTs Protest against PUTIN

30. Policy Feedback
Wlezien:
Thermostatic Model :
government responds to
public opinion but often
overshoots it, causing the
public to move in the
opposite direction

31. Conclusion
Public Opinion is
shaped by various
factors.
(1) Predispositioned attitudes
(2) Ideology and framing,
(3)Values
(4) Schemas
We may utilize Public
Opinion, by effectively
influencing policies for
a creation of a better
life.