1. Public Opinion Listening to Citizens

2. Understanding Public Opinion in the Context of American Politics Focus groups – Small gatherings of individuals used to test ideas before marketing (p. 126-7). Elites – Individuals in a position of authority, often those with a higher level of education than the population at large (p. 127).

3. The Nature of Public Opinion Public Opinion – Opinions held by private individuals that governments find it prudent to heed (p. 127). Political Culture – The dominant values and beliefs of a political community (p. 127).

4. Changes in Assessing and Using Public Opinions Straw Polls – An unscientific survey of popular views (p. 129).

5. How Political Opinions Are Formed (POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION) The Process of Socialization – Life Cycle Effects (p. 129) – Generational Effects (p. 130) – Cohort (p. 130) Agents of Political Socialization (pp. 130-2) – Family – Educational Institutions – Religious Institutions – Voluntary Associations – Media

6. Group Differences in Political Opinions (pp. 132– 4) (Factors of Diversity) *Racial and *Ethnic Identity *Gender *Geography Age Religious Affiliation Sexual Orientation

7. Group Differences in Political Opinions (pp. 132– 4) (Factors of Diversity) Con’t. Education Occupation Income Wealth Social Economic Status (S.E.S)

8. Measuring Public Opinion Dimensions of Public Opinion – Direction (p. 134-5) – Salience (p. 134-5) – Intensity (p. 134-5) – Stability (p. 135) – Informational Support (p. 135)

9. Measuring Public Opinion Con’t. Types of Polls – Benchmark Survey (p. 135) – Trial Heat Survey (p. 135) – Tracking Polls (p. 135) – Push Poll (p. 135) – Exit Poll (p. 135)

10. Polling Techniques Who is Asked? Selecting the Sample – Scientific polls (p.136) – Sample (p. 136) – Population (p. 136) – Probability Sampling (p. 136) – Simple Random Sampling (pp. 136-7) – Systemic Sampling (pp. 136-7) – Sampling Error (pp. 136-7)

11. Polling Techniques Con’t. What is Asked? Paying Attention to the Questions – Leading Question (pp. 137-8) – Nonattitudes (p. 138)

12. The Content of American Public Opinion Political Cynicism (pp. 138-9) Political Efficacy (p. 140) Political Ideologies - A cohesive set of beliefs that form a general philosophy about the role of government (p. 141) – Liberalism (p. 141) – Conservatism (p. 141) – Populist (p. 142) – Libertarianism (p. 142) Ideologue (p. 142)