Chapter 6 Public opinion political Socialization and the media
Chapter 6 Public Opinion, Political Socialization and the Media
Defining Public opinion o Public Opinion -the aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs shared by some portion of the adult population Consensus opinions -when there is general agreement among the citizenry on an issue Divisive opinions when public opinion is polarized between two quite different positions
Defining Public Opinion • Public Opinion – the aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs shared by some portion of the adult population – Consensus opinions – when there is general agreement among the citizenry on an issue – Divisive opinions – when public opinion is polarized between two quite different positions
Figure 6-1: Consensus opinion No Opinion 2 QUESTION: Do you Disapprove approve or disapprove 10% of the way George W. Bush handled his job as president in the first few weeks after the September 1l terrorist attacks? A prove 88 SOURCE: The Gallup poll, January 23-25, 2003
Figure 6-1: Consensus Opinion No Opinion 2 % Disapprove 10% Approve 88% QUESTION: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush handled his job as president in the first few weeks after the September 11 terrorist attacks? SOURCE: The Gallup Poll, January 23-25, 2003
Figure 6-2: Divisive Opinion QUESTION: Do No Opinion you approve or disapprove of the 3 way george W. Bush has handled his job as president over the past few weeks? Disapprove 44% Approve 53% SOURCE: The Gallup Poll, January 23-25, 2003
Figure 6-2: Divisive Opinion No Opinion 3 % Disapprove 44% Approve 53% QUESTION: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush has handled his job as president over the past few weeks? SOURCE: The Gallup Poll, January 23-25, 2003
Aspects of Polling Techniques simple random sample each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected for the sample quota sample -a less accurate technique wherein polling organizations predetermine the characteristics of the needed sample, and then find respondents with those characteristics to fill the slots sampling error -the difference between a samples results and the result if the entire population had been interviewed
Aspects of Polling Techniques • simple random sample – each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected for the sample • quota sample – a less accurate technique wherein polling organizations predetermine the characteristics of the needed sample, and then find respondents with those characteristics to fill the slots • sampling error – the difference between a sample’s results and the result if the entire population had been interviewed
Political socialization Defined as the process by which individuals acquire political beliefs and attitudes How are Americans socialized? amI Education Peers Religion Economic status Political events Opinion leaders Media Demographics Gender Gap
Political Socialization • Defined as the process by which individuals acquire political beliefs and attitudes • How are Americans socialized? – Family – Education – Peers – Religion – Economic Status – Political Events – Opinion Leaders – Media – Demographics – Gender Gap
Party Identification from Parent to Child Democrat Independent Republican Both parents 59% 299 13% Democrats Both parents Independents 17% 67 16% Both parents Republicans 12% 299 59 Children generally follow in their parents' footsteps when it comes to political party identification SOURCE: 1992 National Election Study Center for Political Studies, Univers ity of Michigan
Party Identification from Parent to Child Democrat Independent Republican Both Parents Democrats 59% 29% 13% Both Parents Independents 17% 67% 16% Both Parents Republicans 12% 29% 59% Children generally follow in their parents’ footsteps when it comes to political party identification. SOURCE: 1992 National Election Study Center for Political Studies, University of Michigan
Table 6-1: Trends in political Trust QUESTION: How much of the time do you think you can trust the government in Washington to do what is right-just about al ways, most of the time, or only some of the time 要图图图图要 Saying Always, Most of 615336332925324642442723202534406446 the time ome of364561636773645155547375797166593552 the time SOURCES: New York Times/CBS News Surveys; the University of Michigan Survey Research Center, National Election Studies; the Pew Research Center for the People and the press: Council for Excellence in Government; a Washington Post poll, September 25-27, 2001; and a gallup poll, September 2-4, 2002
Table 6-1: Trends in Political Trust QUESTION: How much of the time do you think you can trust the government in Washington to do what is right – just about always, most of the time, or only some of the time? 1968 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2001 2002 % saying: Always/ Most of the time Some of the time 61 36 53 45 36 61 33 63 29 67 25 73 32 64 46 51 42 55 44 54 27 73 23 75 20 79 25 71 34 66 40 59 64 35 46 52 SOURCES: New York Times/CBS News Surveys; the University of Michigan Survey Research Center, National Election Studies; the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press; Council for Excellence in Government; a Washington Post poll, September 25-27, 2001; and a Gallup poll, September 2-4, 2002
Table 6-2. Confidence in Institutions trend QUESTION: I am going to read a list of institutions in American society. Would you please tell me how much confidence you, yourself, have in each one -a great deal, quite a lot, some or very little? Percentage Saying"Great Deal"Quite a Lot 到国图3 Military 575450536161636967646068667982 Church or organized6565646266615256535756586045|50 religion Banks and banking na60465151 51 423038434143444750 U.s. Supreme Court464546425652463943445049505047 Public schools 5.4|s342|39485043|3539|40|4036|3838|40 Television na3825252928na2421333434343535 Newspaper na|5135383531na3231303533363533 Congress 4034292839na321819212226262929 Organized labor 393628|2628|26ma21262623282626|2 Big business 3332202831nana2223212830282022 na= not asked SOURCE: Gallup poll, June 9-10, 2003
Table 6-2: Confidence in Institutions Trend QUESTION: I am going to read a list of institutions in American society. Would you please tell me how much confidence you, yourself, have in each one – a great deal, quite a lot, some, or very little? Percentage Saying “Great Deal” or “Quite a Lot” 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2002 2003 Military 57 54 50 53 61 61 63 69 67 64 60 68 66 79 82 Church or organized religion 65 65 64 62 66 61 52 56 53 57 56 58 60 45 50 Banks and banking na 60 46 51 51 51 42 30 38 43 41 43 44 47 50 U.S. Supreme Court 46 45 46 42 56 52 46 39 43 44 50 49 50 50 47 Public schools 54 53 42 39 48 50 43 35 39 40 40 36 38 38 40 Television na 38 25 25 29 28 na 24 21 33 34 34 34 35 35 Newspapers na 51 35 38 35 31 na 32 31 30 35 33 36 35 33 Congress 40 34 29 28 39 na 32 18 19 21 22 26 26 29 29 Organized labor 39 36 28 26 28 26 na 22 26 26 23 28 26 26 28 Big business 33 32 20 28 31 na na 22 23 21 28 30 28 20 22 na = not asked SOURCE: Gallup poll, June 9-10, 2003
The Media Functions in the United states entertainment reporting the news identifying public problems setting the public agenda socialIzing new generations providing a political forum ● making profits
The Media’ Functions in the United States • entertainment • reporting the news • identifying public problems • setting the public agenda • socializing new generations • providing a political forum • making profits
