In This Section:
I) Brief Table of Contents
II) Detailed Table of Contents
I) Brief Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Public Opinion in Democratic Societies
Chapter 2 Polling: The Scientific Assessment of Public Opinion
Chapter 3. Microlevel Opinion: The Psychology of Opinion-Holding
Chapter 4. Macrolevel Opinion: The Flow of Political Sentiment
Chapter 5. Political Socialization and Political Learning
Chapter 6. Public Opinion and Democratic Stability
Chapter 7. Group Differences in Political Opinions
Chapter 8. The News Media and Political Opinions
Chapter 9. Elections as Instruments of Popular Control
Chapter 10. The Public and Its Elected Representatives
Chapter 11. Public Opinion and the Performance of Democracy
Appendix: The National Election Study and the General Social Survey Questions
II) Detailed Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Public Opinion in Democratic Societies
Public Opinion and Government
Public Opinion Defined
The Evolution of the Public Opinion Poll
The Modern Public Opinion Poll and Its Political Consequences
Sources of Information on Public Opinion
Plan of This Book
Chapter 2 Polling: The Scientific Assessment of Public Opinion
The Value of Polls
Sampling
Question Wording
Polls and Predicting Elections
Conclusion
Chapter 3. Microlevel Opinion: The Psychology of Opinion-Holding
Political Attention and Opinion-Holding
Liberal-Conservative Ideology and the Organization of Opinions
Party Identification and the Organization of Political Opinions
Political Polarization
Chapter 4. Macrolevel Opinion: The Flow of Political Sentiment
The Micro Foundations of Macro Opinion
Trends in Policy Opinions
General Ideological Movement
General Partisan Movement
Presidential Approval
Conclusion: What Moves Public Opinion?
Chapter 5. Political Socialization and Political Learning
The Preadult Years: Socialization to Citizenship
The Agents of Preadult Socialization
College: Higher Education and Its Impact
Personal Predispositions and Political Attitudes
Socialization During Adulthood
The Persistence of Political Orientations
Conclusion
Chapter 6. Public Opinion and Democratic Stability
Support for Democratic Values
Political Consensus
Political Support: Trust and Efficacy
Personality and Democratic Citizenship
Conclusion
Chapter 7. Group Differences in Political Opinions
Socioeconomic Class and Political Opinions
Race and Political Opinions
Age and Political Opinions
Religion and Political Opinions
Geography and Political Opinions
Gender and Political Opinions
Conclusion
Chapter 8. The News Media and Political Opinions
The Evolution of the American Media
Bins and Negativity in the News
Models of Media Effects
Media Content and Political Opinions
Media Change and the Quality of Electoral Decision Making
Political Advertising
The Media and Political Polarization
Chapter 9. Elections as Instruments of Popular Control
Political Campaigns and the Voter
Policy Issues and Voters
Explaining Election Outcomes
Conclusion
Chapter 10. The Public and Its Elected Representatives
Opinion Sharing Between Policymakers and the Public
Political Parties and Representation
Leadership Responsiveness to Public Opinion
Do Elected Officials Need to Follow Public Opinion?
Interest Groups and Democratic Representation
Conclusion
Chapter 11. Public Opinion and the Performance of Democracy
Assessing the Impact of Public Opinion on Policy
Interpreting the Public’s Role in Democracy
The Expansion of Political Participation
Appendix: The National Election Study and the General Social Survey Questions
A-1 Questions from the National Election Studies
A-2 Questions from the General Social Survey