Synopses & Reviews
Praise for Previous EditionsSimply the best book published on public opinion today. No other authors do a better job in covering how public opinion is formed, measured, and used in democratic society. Scholars and students of public opinion will love reading and learning from this superb book.” Kenneth Warren, Saint Louis University; president of The Warren Poll; and author of In Defense of Public Opinion Polling
The interdisciplinary nature of this book is its greatest asset. I am struck by how effectively the authors cover an immense amount of ground in terms of the role public opinion plays in politics, how public opinion develops and evolves, and the medias role in public opinion formation.” Stephen J. Farnsworth, University of Mary Washington
Public Opinion presents a strong theoretical foundation of why we study public opinion grounded in practical examples. This approach puts the study of public opinion in a context that matters to the student.” Kevin Wagner, Florida Atlantic University
Public Opinion is a comprehensive and multidisciplinary examination of public opinion in the United States. Drawing on scholarship in political science, psychology, sociology, and communication, the authors explore the nature of political and social attitudes in the United States and how these attitudes are shaped by various institutions, with an emphasis on mass media. The text also serves as a provocative starting point for the discussion of citizen moods, political participation, and voting behavior. Feature boxes throughout help students understand all aspects of the elusive phenomenon we call public opinion.
The third edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect how public opinion is studied today. New material includes a brand-new chapter on public opinion and democratic theory, a revamped chapter on content and conflict in public opinion, and new discussions of the influence of online and social media on public opinion, especially in policymaking and campaigns.
Carroll J. Glynn is professor and was director of the School of Communication (1998-2014) at The Ohio State University.
Susan Herbst is President of the University of Connecticut.
Mark Lindeman is adjunct assistant professor of political science at Vassar College.
Garrett J. OKeefe is professor emeritus of journalism at Colorado State University.
Robert Y. Shapiro is professor of political science at Columbia University.
Review
"The interdisciplinary nature of this book is its greatest asset. I am struck by how effectively the authors cover an immense amount of ground in terms of the role public opinion plays in politics, how public opinion develops and evolves, and the medias role in public opinion formation."
Stephen J. Farnsworth, University of Mary Washington
"Public Opinion presents a strong theoretical foundation of why we study public opinion grounded in practical examples. This type of approach allows the reader to put the study of public opinion in a context that matters to the student and frames the course in a way that allows the instructor to build a strong curriculum."
Kevin Wagner, Florida Atlantic University
Praise for the previous edition:
"Simply the best book published on public opinion today. No other authors do a better job in covering how public opinion is formed, measured, and used in democratic society. Scholars and students of public opinion will love reading and learning from this superb book."
Kenneth Warren, Saint Louis University; president of The Warren Poll; and author of In Defense of Public Opinion Polling
"Public Opinion is a delightful text that is both theoretically sophisticated and imminently readable. A valuable teaching resource that covers the traditional material thoroughly but also includes unique topics that draw on the broad expertise of its authors."
Clyde Wilcox, Georgetown University
Synopsis
This book offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary examination of how public opinion is formed and charged, as well as how it affects democratic society.
Synopsis
Public Opinion is a comprehensive and multidisciplinary examination of public opinion in the United States. Drawing on scholarship in political science, psychology, sociology, and communications, the authors explore the nature of political and social attitudes in the United States and how these attitudes are shaped by various institutions, with an emphasis on mass media. The book also serves as a provocative starting point for the discussion of citizen moods, political participation, and voting behavior. Feature boxes and illustrations throughout help students understand all aspects of the elusive phenomenon we call public opinion.
The third edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect how public opinion is studied today, and to incorporate current data and debates. The book now contains two revised and reframed theory chapters—Group Membership and Public Opinion” and Public Opinion and Social Process”—as well as new coverage of the influence of online and social media on public opinion, especially in issue opinions and campaigns.
About the Author
Carroll J. Glynn is professor and director of the School of Communication at The Ohio State University.
Susan Herbst is President of the University of Connecticut.
Mark Lindeman is a freelance public opinion and elections consultant and teaches in the QMSS program at Columbia University.
Garrett J. OKeefe is professor emeritus of journalism at Colorado State University.
Robert Y. Shapiro is professor of political science at Columbia University.
Table of Contents
PrefacePart One: Introducing Public Opinion
1. The Meanings of Public Opinion
2. The History of Public Opinion
3. Methods for Studying Public Opinion
Part Two: Theories of Public Opinion
4. Public Opinion and Democratic Theory
5. Psychological Theories of Public Opinion
6. Group Membership and Public Opinion
7. Public Opinion as Social Process
8. Economic Perspectives on Public Opinion
Part Three: Public Opinion in Context
9. Issue Opinions: Media, Identity, and Debate
10. Persuasion, Campaigns, and Voting
11. Public Opinion and Policymaking
12. Conclusion: Looking Ahead