Questions for Erikson and Tedin, Chapter 1

(Questions for Norrander and Wilcox, pp. xxi-xxxvii, on the Back)

1. Who was the first major political theorist to use the term public opinion to mean the customs and manners of all members of society, not just the elite? What was the founding fathers’ attitude toward public opinion? Contrast the views of Walter Lippmann with George Gallup concerning the political abilities of the mass public. How did Herbert Blumer and Lindsay Rogers criticize Gallup’s positive view of public opinion?

2. Describe the deliberative poll. What are seen as its positive aspects? What are some concerns?

3. Contrast Gabriel Almond’s view of public input into government policy with that of liberal democracy theorists such as Robert Dahl.

4. How do the authors define public opinion? What are some points made about public opinion in this section?

5. What is a straw poll? What is a quota sample? Why are the academic survey organizations such as NORC and CPS (formerly SRC) more willing to conduct extensive surveys of opinion than commercial polling organizations like the Gallup or Roper Polls? What is the GSS? What is the NES?

6. According to John Geer, how has modern polling changed the behavior of politicians? How does Benjamin Ginzberg feel that modern polls have domesticated public opinion?

7. Look at two of the websites listed on pp. 16-18 of Erikson and Tedin. Find a couple of interesting findings presented there and bring a short report to class about your findings. (10 points)

8. Briefly describe the five linkage models between public opinion and public policy found in Section 1-6. Be sure to mention problems with each of the models.