Public opinion : measuring the American mind / Barbara A. Bardes, Emerita, University of Cincinnati ; Robert W. Oldendick, University of South Carolina.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bardes, Barbara A., author.

Oldendick, Robert W., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Public opinion--United States.

Public opinion.

United States.

Public opinion polls.

Physical Description:

xix, 349 pages ; 23 cm

Edition:

Fifth edition.

Place of Publication:

Lanham : Rowman & Littlefield, [2017]

Summary:

The fifth edition of Public Opinion: Measuring the American Mind provides a comprehensive, accessible introduction to public opinion in the United States and describes how public opinion data are collected, how they are used, and the role they play in the U.S. political system. Bardes and Oldendick introduce students to the history of polling and explain the factors a good consumer of polls should know in order to critically evaluate public opinion data. Using relevant, real-world examples, the authors provide in-depth coverage of public opinion on such issues as political ideology, health care, race, and foreign policy, as well as discussion of the major changes that have taken place on controversial issues such as gay marriage, gun control, and immigration. New to this Edition, A new theme of political polarization is discussed within the context of each of the public policy chapters, reflecting the latest public opinion literature and providing continuity across chapters. A significantly revamped chapter on sources of opinions includes a fully updated examination of how mass media and social media serve to shape public opinion. The chapter on race has been overhauled and reframed in the context of symbolic racism and describing the vast differences between blacks and whites, in addition to extending the discussion of the increasing importance of the views of Hispanics. An all-new chapter on elections highlights the connection between public opinion and voting, bringing together discussion of opinions on policies, partisanship, and ideology. New end-of-chapter study aids include a chapter summary and 2-3 learning activities, as well as additional web resources, which are live-linked in the ebook. Book jacket.

Contents:

Part I Public Opinion and American Democracy 1

1 Public Opinion and American Democracy 3

Defining Public Opinion 5

Does Public Opinion Matter? 10

The Current Environment 12

The Plan of the Book 13

Summary 14

Learning Exercises 15

Key Terms 15

Web Resources 15

2 Measuring American Opinion: The Origins of Polling 17

The Origins of Public Opinion Polling 18

The Development of Survey Research 19

The Election of 1948: A Temporary Setback 21

After 1948: Continued Growth 24

A Surge in Telephone Interviewing: The Development of Random-Digit Dialing 24

The Rise of Internet Polling 25

Summary 27

Learning Exercises 28

Key Terms 28

Web Resources 29

Part II How are Opinions Measured and Used? 31

3 How Are Opinions Measured? 33

Modes of Survey Data Collection 33

Populations of Interest 34

Selecting a Sample 35

Sampling Error 41

Sample Size 42

Questionnaire Design 43

Mode of Data Collection: How to Decide? 55

Total Survey Error 56

Summary 57

Learning Exercises 58

Key Terms 58

Web Resources 59

4 How Public Opinion Data Are Used 63

Using public Opinion in Political Campaigns 63

The Use of Public Opinion Polling by Elected Officeholders 66

The Use of Polling Data by Government Agencies 70

Public Opinion and Interest Groups 74

The Use of Polling by the Media 75

Tracking Presidential Approval Ratings 79

The Call-In Poll 81

The Use of Public Opinion Data in Academic Research 81

Summary 84

Learning Exercises 84

Key Terms 85

Web Resources 85

Part III WHAT DO Americans Believe? 89

5 Sources of Opinions: Socialization, Mass Media, and Social Media 91

The Political Learning of Children and Adolescents 92

The Influence of Formal Education 96

The Curriculum 97

Ritual and Ceremony 98

The Teachers 98

School Behaviors 99

The Influence of Ethnic Identity 101

Religion and Public Opinion 103

Gender and Opinions 105

The Influence of Peers 107

Generational Influences on Opinion 109

Personality, Genetics, and Opinion 110

The Influence of the Media and Social Media on Opinion 111

Summary 117

Learning Exercises 118

Key Terms 118

Web Resources 118

6 What the Public Knows about Politics 120

Early Empirical Investigations 121

The Unchanging American Voter 123

Group Differences in Knowledge 126

Alternate Perspectives 127

Applying Democratic Principles 128

The Consequences of Political Knowledge 132

A Glass-Half-Full Perspective? 133

Summary 134

Learning Exercises 135

Key Term 135

Web Resources 135

7 Political Orientations 138

Political Ideology 139

Party Identification 146

Confidence in Institutions 152

Trust in Government 155

Summary 160

Learning Exercises 161

Key Terms 162

Web Resources 162

8 Public Opinion on Social-Welfare Issues 165

Social-Welfare Issues 166

Education 169

HealthCare 171

Assisting the Needy 178

The Environment 182

The Issue of Global Warming 185

Group Differences in Attitudes 186

Summary 189

Learning Exercises 190

Web Resources 191

9 Americans' Views on Racial Issues 194

Racial Discrimination: Toward Consensus on General Principles 195

Issues of Race: The Government's Role 199

Application of Principles: Busing and Affirmative Action 205

Symbolic Racism 208

Contemporary Attitudes 211

The Increasing Influence of Hispanics 214

Summary 217

Learning Exercises 218

Key Terms 218

Web Resources 218

10 Public Opinion on Highly Controversial Issues 221

The Politics of Public Safety 222

American Views on Gun Control 225

The Politics of Individual Rights 227

Immigration: A Mind Divided 237

Party Differences on Social Issues 239

Summary 242

Learning Exercises 243

Key Terms 244

Web Resources 244

11 How Americans View Foreign and Defense Policies 245

American Opinion in the Post-9/11 World 246

Public Opinion and Foreign Policy: Which Opinions? 248

Foreign Policy Goals and Priorities 249

Partisanship and Foreign Policy 252

Issues of War and Peace 254

Terrorism and the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq 258

Peacekeeping, Rescue, and Other Uses of Military Force 260

Foreign Aid and Other International Issues 261

How Do Americans Think about Foreign Policy? 264

Summary 268

Learning Exercises 268

Web Resources 269

Part IV Public Opinion: The Electoral Connection 271

12 Public Opinion and Electoral Behavior 273

Early Empirical Investigations 273

Change in the American Electorate? 275

The Use of Party Identification and Ideology 276

Issues of Voting 279

Vote Sorting by Issue Positions? 282

Summary 283

Learning Exercises 284

Key Terms 284

Web Resources 285.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Bardes, Barbara A., author. Public opinion.

ISBN:

9781442261877

1442261870

9781442261884

1442261889

OCLC:

932302581