1. Political Socialization
Why do we believe what we believe?

2. Political Socialization
Political attitudes are grounded in values.
We learn these values by a process known as political socialization.
Many factors influence opinion formation
What are the factors that influence opinion?

3. The Mass Media
In 2004 over 40 percent of those polled regularly learned about the election of candidates from The Tonight Show, The Late Show, or The Daily Show

4. Recently Seen on the AP Exam
Jewish People are more Liberal while Protestants are more Conservative
Whites are more Conservative while African Americans are more Liberal
Women are more likely to be democrats while men are more likely to be Republicans
Southern Citizens are more likely to be conservative while Northern Citizens are more likely to be democratic

5. The Mass Media
Because of this Candidates are starting to go to popular talk shows to get their points to the public
Kerry and Bush went to Dr. Phil
Gov. Huckabee on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno

6. Declining Trust in Government
Divided Government
What is it?
Problems with a Divided Government
Heightened Partisanship
Decline in the Middle (Moderates frozen out, extremes driving legislation)
Gridlock
When the political process stops. Leads to extensive delays and frustration in the Public

7. Increased cost of Elections
Candidates must spend more time raising money and not on the issues
Role of interest groups have become more profound. Many corporations and connections to wealthy donors
Keeps good people from running
Perception of Wasteful spending

8. Consequences in Lack of Trust in the Government
Protest
Decline in Voting
Increase in independents or third party identifiers
Less overall political participation

9. Public Opinion
“ Is what the people think about an issue or set of issues at any given point in time”
Normally measured by polls
Interviews or surveys of a sampling of people
What are the problems of public opinion polling?

10. Public Opinion
The distribution of individual attitudes about a particular issue, candidate, political institution, etc.

11. George Gallup Developed “Gallup Polls” Started in 1932 1st “pollster”
Since 1936, agency has picked one general election result incorrect

12. Sampling Representative – must mirror population you want answer about
Random – give everyone an equal possibility of being sampled
Wording – questions can’t be leading
Straw poll – poor polling technique

13. Good or Bad Polls Word Questioning
A question which is poorly worded can result in flawed polls.
EX. Are you for or against killing innocent babies?
95% or Americans are against abortion

14. Sampling
You can’t poll everyone so you must find a way to get a sampling of people.
This can be taken advantage of by manipulating the sampling pool.
Best way to take a reliable sample is a scientific random sample
A method of a poll selection that gives each person in a group the same chance of being selected
What is the problem with this?

15. Sampling Stratified Sampling-
Using census data are used to divide the country into four sampling regions. Sets of countries and standard metropolitan statistical areas are then randomly selected in proportion to the total national population
Quota System- In which a pollster makes sure the survey represents the make up of the city or county. 30% African American 15% Latino