1. What are the Origins of Public Opinion
The Sociological Model (theory):
political socialization matters
The Deliberative Model (theory):
Individual judgment matters

2. The Deliberative Theory
Opinions are developed through
Discussion
Sharing of ideas
Questioning
Debate
Reflections/Introspections
Consideration of our values and their applications to issues and events
Not simply derived from environment.
Rodin’s The Burghers of Calais

3. One deliberative model: Moral Foundations Theory
Values form one of the foundations for any group to thrive and grow.
These values are present everywhere, but the mix of values in any group will vary.
By understanding the values that underlie our opinions and ideologies, we can then successfully discuss how to overcome common challenges.

4. Six Foundational Values

5. Case Study: Obesity Who is responsible?
Use moral foundations as part of your argument
Moral Foundations
Care: cherishing and protecting others; opposite of harm.
Fairness or proportionality: rendering justice according to shared rules; opposite of cheating.
Loyalty or ingroup: standing with your group, family, nation; opposite of betrayal.
Authority or respect: submitting to tradition and legitimate authority; opposite of subversion.
Sanctity or purity: abhorrence for disgusting things, foods, actions; opposite of degradation.
Liberty: freedom from coercion, opposite of oppression

6. Small group deliberation
Choose an issue. Share some opinions about the issue. Then, by listening to each other, identify the values that form the foundations of the opinions.
Write in notebook
Issue:
Opinions in group
Underlying value

7. Explaining Turnout Electoral Laws Social Psychological Factors
Mobilization Factors

8. Should voting be compulsory: Countries that Mandate Voting
Argentina Australia Brazil Democratic Republic of Congo Ecuador Luxembourg Nauru North Korea Peru Singapore Uruguay

9. Expansion of Suffrage

10. Electoral Laws Influence Turnout
Registration laws
Availability of registration forms
Deadline to register to vote (fifteen days in CA)
Voter ID
Polling hours
Availability of mail-in ballots

11. Efficacy: self-assessment of your own abilities
Internal efficacy: assessment of your own abilities to understand and participate in politics
External Efficacy: assessment of how well the government listens to you

12. Voting Turnout: averages 1976-2008 (US Census Dept)
FIGURE 8.4 The Percentage of Americans Who Voted, 1976–2008
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, “Reported Voting and Registration by Race, Hispanic Origin, Sex, and Age Groups: November 1964 to 2008”; “Reported Voting and Registration by Region, Educational Attainment, and Labor Force: November 1964 to 2008,” (accessed 11/24/09); U.S. Census Bureau, “Reported Voting and Registration by Region, Educational Attainment, and Labor Force: November 1964 to 2008,” (accessed 11/24/09); Douglass R. Hess and Jody Herman, “Representational Bias in the 2008 Electorate,” November 2009, (accessed 11/21/09).

13. Trust in CA govt/Fed Govt

14. Measure of External Efficacy: Cynicism

15. Mobilization: the efforts of others to motivate us to vote
Examples of Mobilizers:
Family
Media
Political Parties
Churches/Temples
Get out the vote drives by interest groups and campaigns
The level of competition

16. Voter Turnout: factors
Electoral Laws + Political Efficacy (External and internal) + Mobilization=Probability of Voting