Describe the different methods used to measure public opinion and discuss why some are more accurate than others.

Overview: Chapter 6

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

Chapter Goals
The chapter addresses the following goals:

• Describe the process of socialization and the types of agents that contribute to the political socialization of Americans.
• Describe the frames of reference that influence how Americans think politically, and their relative contribution to political opinion.
• Explain how partisan thinking influences opinions about issues and candidates.
• Detail some of the major types of groups and discuss how those groups can influence an individual’s political views.
• Describe the different methods used to measure public opinion and discuss why some are more accurate than others.
• Assess the degree to which American policymakers are responsive to public opinion, and comment on how this question relates to the issue of representation in American politics.

Focus and Main Points
The focus of this chapter is on public opinion and its influences on the American political system. A major theme of the chapter is that public opinion is a powerful yet inexact force. The policies of the U.S. government cannot be understood apart from public opinion; at the same time, public opinion is not a precise determinant of public policies.

The main points made in this chapter are these:

• Public opinion consists of those views held by ordinary citizens that are openly expressed. Public officials have various means of gauging public opinion but increasingly use public opinion polls for this purpose.
• The process by which individuals acquire their political opinions is called political socialization. This process begins during childhood, when, through family and school, Americans acquire many of their basic political values and beliefs. Socialization continues into adulthood, during which peers, political leaders, and the news media are among the major influences.
• Americans’ political opinions are shaped by several frames of reference, including ideology, group attachments, and partisanship.
• Public opinion has an important influence on government but ordinarily does not directly determine exactly what officials will do.

Chapter Outline
I.   Political Socialization: The Origins of Americans’ Opinions

1. Primary Socializing Agents: Family, School, and Church
   B.   Secondary Socializing Agents: Peers, Media, Leaders, and Events
2. Frames of Reference: How Americans Think Politically
3. Party Identification
   B.   Political Ideology
   C.   Group Orientations
4. 1. 1. Religion
      2. Economic Class
      3. Region
      4. Race and Ethnicity
      5. Gender
      6. Generations and Age
      7. Crosscutting Groups

III.   The Measurement of Public Opinion

1. Public Opinion Polls
   B.   Problems with Polls
2. The Influence of Public Opinion on Policy
3. Limits on the Public’s Influence
   B.   Public Opinion and the Boundaries of Action
   C.   Leaders and Public Opinion

Chapter Summary
The process by which individuals acquire their political opinions is called political socialization. During childhood, the family, schools, and church are important sources of basic political attitudes, such as beliefs about the parties and the nature of the U.S. political and economic systems. Many of the basic orientations that Americans acquire during childhood remain with them in adulthood, but socialization is a continuing process. Adults’ opinions are affected mostly by peers, the news media, and political leaders. Events themselves also have a significant short-term influence on opinions.

The frames of reference that guide Americans’ opinions include political ideology, although most citizens do not have a strong and consistent ideological attachment. In addition, individuals develop opinions as a result of group orientations—notably, religion, economic class, occupation, region, race and ethnicity, gender, and age. Partisanship is a major source of political opinions; Republicans and Democrats differ in their voting behavior and views on many policy issues

Public opinion can be defined as those opinions held by ordinary citizens that they openly express. Public officials have many ways of assessing public opinion, such as the outcomes of elections, but they have increasingly come to rely on public opinion polls. There are many possible sources of error in polls, and surveys sometimes present a misleading portrayal of the public’s views. However, a properly conducted poll can be an accurate indication of what the public is thinking.

Public opinion has a significant influence on government but seldom determines exactly what government will do in a particular instance. Public opinion serves to constrain the policy choices of officials but also is subject to their efforts to mold and channel what the public is thinking. Evidence indicates that officials are particularly attentive to public opinion on highly visible and controversial issues of public policy.