The objectives of the course are twofold: to evaluate the role played by public opinion in the American political system, and to understand how public opinion is measured. In terms of the first objective, you will read about and discuss the structure and formation of political attitudes, the relationship of attitudes to political behavior, and the influence of public opinion on policy-making in America. We will pay particular attention to the conditions under which a political culture conducive to democracy develops and is maintained. As for the second objective, the class will plan and conduct a campus-wide survey of student attitudes. The two objectives are complementary. That is, you will discover not only what we know about public opinion, but (perhaps at least as important) how we have acquired that knowledge. This process does not require any particular social science, statistics, or mathematics background: the skills we will learn are basic and relatively uncomplicated.

Success in the course is defined primarily in terms of your ability to understand the role of public opinion in a democracy, and the extent to which you think critically about issues in this area. Full class discussion of all relevant topics is thus not just encouraged, but expected; you should come to class prepared, for example, to discuss and to write about the assigned reading.

EXAMS. There will be a midterm and a final exam. The final will be comprehensive, and both exams will be composed primarily of essay questions.

PAPERS. Two papers will be required. The first will be limited to 1500 words (approximately 5 pages) and will deal with an assigned topic. The second will be a 2000 to 3000 word (7 to 10 pages) opinion research project based on the campus survey the class will conduct. Both papers will be typed, double-spaced, and use appropriate citation form. The tentative dates for the papers are: first paper assigned February 12, due February 21; second paper assigned April 5, due April 22.

LATE WORK. Late work will be penalized one letter grade (10 points) every three days. No work will be accepted more than two weeks late. All work in this course is bound by the Honor Code. Computer problems are not acceptable excuses for late work.

CAMPUS SURVEY. We will design and implement a survey of student attitudes on the Davidson campus. Each student will participate in the development and administration of the survey; sufficient class time will be scheduled to introduce students to survey research methods and techniques of social science analysis.

QUIZZES. At various times during the semester, you will be expected to write brief in-class essays about topics relevant to the assigned reading.

GRADE COMPOSITION. The midterm exam will constitute 20 percent of the grade, and the final exam 25 percent. The short paper will be worth 20 percent, and the project paper 25 percent. Quizzes will count 10 percent.

PHOTOCOPYING FEE. You are required to pay a $5.00 fee to cover the costs of the unusual amount of photocopying required for the course.

Four books are required for the course. They are listed below. Additionally, readings may be placed on reserve in the library.

American Public Opinion, by Robert Erikson, Norman Luttbeg, and Kent Tedin
The Changing American Mind, by William Mayer
Polling and the Public, by Herbert Asher
The Nature and Origins of Mass Opinion, by John Zaller

I. Public Opinion and Democracy (Jan. 15-17)

READING: Erikson, chapter 1

II. What Do Americans Think (and Why)? (Jan. 19-Feb. 5)

READING: Mayer, The Changing American Mind (1-340)

III. Measuring Public Opinion: The Davidson Survey (Feb. 7-26)

READING: Asher, Polling and the Public (entire book)

IV. Mass Belief Systems: Ideology and Partisanship (Feb. 28-Mar. 11)

READING: Erikson, chap. 4

TENTATIVE MIDTERM DATE: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13

V. Political Culture (March 15-20)

Case Study: Religion and American Politics

READING: Erikson, chapter 5; selection from Kenneth Wald, Religion and American Politics in the United States (on reserve)

VI. Political Socialization (March 22-25)

Case Study: The Socialization of Gender

READING: Erikson, chapter 6; selection from Virginia Sapiro, The Political Integration of Women (on reserve)

VII. Media and Public Opinion (March 27-April 1)

READING: Erikson, chapter 8

VIII. Opinion and Policy Linkages (April 3-10)

READING: Erikson, chapters 9-11

IX. Public Opinion: A Theoretical Reformulation

READING: Zaller, The Nature and Origins of Mass Opinion (1-332)