1. 6: Public Opinion and Political Socialization
Shaping the People’s Voice

2. The Measurement of Public Opinion
Public opinion: those politically relevant opinions held by ordinary citizens that are openly expressed

3. Public Opinion Polls Traditional method: election results
Public opinion poll: estimate of public sentiment
Measures public opinion using randomly chosen population sample(s) and carefully constructed interviews
Sample: a relatively small group of individuals that is part of a larger group of individuals
Population: the larger group of individuals
Random selection is the key to scientific polling, which is theoretically based on probability sampling
Accuracy of a poll is expressed in terms of sampling error

4. Opinion Dimensions
Public opinion is characterized by various dimensions
Direction: pro or con position on an issue
Intensity: how strongly the position is felt
Salience: how important people think the issue is among other issues

5. Problems with Polls
Samples are often based on telephone numbers, but some Americans do not have phones
Many also refuse to participate in telephone polls
Polled individuals may be unfamiliar with issues
Responses are considered “non-opinions”
Respondents are not always truthful
Poorly worded questions and poorly ordered questions can also affect results

6. Political Socialization: The Origins of Americans’ Opinions
Partisanship is a learned response acquired via political socialization
Process has two distinguishing characteristics:
Continues throughout a person’s lifetime
Effects are cumulative
Takes place through primary and secondary agents of socialization

7. National Pride
Americans are told of their country’s greatness in many ways, contributing to their comparatively high degree of national pride. When asked in the World Values Survey how proud they were of their nationality, 72% of Americans responded “very proud.”
Source: Miguel Basanez, A World of Three Cultures (New York: Oxford University Press, 2016), 142.

8. Primary Socializing Agents: Family, School, and Church
Strongest of all agents of socialization
Has a near-monopoly on the attention of the young child
Schools, principally early childhood education:
Instrumental in building support for the nation and its cultural beliefs; more so than schools in other democracies
Praise for the nation’s political institutions and heroes; Pledge of Allegiance
Church:
Scholars have not studied the effects of religion as well as schools or family, but it is a powerful influence for some

9. Secondary Socializing Agents: Peers, Media, Leaders, and Events
With age, additional socializing agents come into play and become sources of opinion
Peers
Media
Leaders
Events

10. Frames of Reference: How Americans Think Politically
Reference points by which individuals evaluate issues and developments are acquired through the socialization process
Party identification
Political ideology
Group orientations
Americans’ frames of reference provide an indication of how they think politically and form a basis for common cause

11. Party Identification
Party identification: emotional loyalty (not formal membership) to a political party
Major shifts in loyalty are rare
Usually these occur in response to a major event
Can lead to selective perception
Partisanship clearly divides American opinion in the everyday world of politics

12. Figure 6-1 Party Identification
Most Americans say they identify with the Republican or Democratic Party. Among those who call themselves independents, most say they “lean” toward a party and typically vote for that party’s candidates.
Source: Based on average of all Gallup polls conducted in 2015.

13. Figure 6-2 Partisanship and Policy Priorities
Republicans and Democrats differ in their opinions on the nation’s policy priorities.
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Source: Pew Research Center poll, 2015.

14. Party Loyalties in the States
By the Gallup organization’s indicator, Republican strength is concentrated in the Plains and Rocky Mountains and Democratic strength is found in the Northeast and West Coast. The six most heavily Republican states are, in order, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, South Dakota, Montana, and Alabama, while Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, New York, Vermont, and California (in that order) are the six most heavily Democratic states.

15. Political Ideology Ideology: a coherent set of political beliefs
Few Americans have a true political ideology
Ideological leanings:
Economic liberals and economic conservatives
Cultural (social) liberals and cultural (social) conservatives
Populists: generally, economic liberals who are cultural conservatives
Libertarians: generally, economic conservatives who are cultural liberals

16. Group Orientations
Many Americans see politics through the lens of group affinity
Religion
Economic class
Region
Race and ethnicity
Gender
Generations and age
Impact of group loyalties is diminished when identification with one group is offset by identification with others

17. Religion and Politics
Religion emerged as a political force in the 1970s. Today, religious observance and partisanship are closely connected. Adults who attend church regularly are far more likely to vote Republican.
Source: Exit polls; figures are averages for the 2000 through 2012 presidential elections.

18. The Influence of Public Opinion on Policy
Observers disagree about how much public opinion affects policy, and how much it should affect policy
Delegate view of political representatives: they should act in response to what constituents say they want
Trustee view of political representatives: they should take constituents’ concerns into account but exercise judgment about the policies that will best serve their interest

19. Limits on the Public’s Influence
Several obstacles stand in the way of governing by public opinion
Inconsistencies in citizens’ policy preferences
Citizens’ lack of understanding of the issues
Mastery of the issues is not necessary for an opinion to be of value, but weak understanding can make it difficult for policymakers to respond
Leaders’ efforts to influence public opinion can limit its influence
Described by Noam Chomsky as “manufactured consent”
Example: lead-up to the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003

20. Public Opinion and the Boundaries of Action
Officials normally must operate within the boundary of what the public will accept
Example: changes to social security
Higher public involvement makes it more likely officials will respond to public sentiment
Example: shift in U.S. policy on the use of force and ground troops fighting ISIS after the beheading of two Americans
Congressional representatives pay close attention to public opinion
Tend to favor the position that will garner them the most support in their next election