Political
Science 503: Public Opinion
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Professor Thomas E. Nelson
2044 Derby Hall 292-6408; nelson.179@osu.edu Office hours: Wednesday |
Fall Quarter, 2004 Tuesday, Thursday, 384 Arps Hall |
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Teaching Assistant: Kendall Thompson |
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Other Links of Interest: |
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Streaming video of presidential
debates (New York Times) |
Cleveland
Plain Dealer makes no endorsement for President 2004 |
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Course Description
What is public opinion? Where does it come from? How does it change? What does it matter? These are fascinating questions, and in
this course we will attempt to answer them using the results of scientific
studies and our own wisdom and imagination. We will explore the landscape of opinion
on a variety of political topics.
We will attempt to find out what the public thinks about these
issues, and more importantly, why they think the way they do. Our analysis will draw extensively from
scientific studies of attitudes in the fields of political science and social
psychology. We will also attempt to
understand how attitudes change.
Finally, we will explore the political ramifications of public
opinion. We will try to find out
how a person's political opinions influence their behavior, and whether or not
political leaders pay any attention to, or manipulate, “the will of the
public.”
Course Requirements and Grading
There will be two examinations: a midterm in
class, and a final during the scheduled examination period. The final will concentrate on the latter
half of the course, although some questions will be included that touch upon
topics from the beginning half. You
will also write a short essay (3 pages), due during the 9th week of
the quarter. The format of the
exams and essay will be discussed in class.
The breakdown of the grading is as follows:
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Midterm Examination |
40% |
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Final Examination |
40% |
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Essay |
20% |
Exam and essay dates are fixed. I will not allow extensions, rescheduled
exams, or early finals. I will only make exceptions for documented
illnesses, family emergencies, and previously-scheduled university activities.
Course
Website
There is a course website, which you can find
by visiting my homepage: http://polisci.osu.edu/faculty/tnelson/.
The website will contain lecture outlines, sample test questions, essay
assignment, etc.
Four books are required for purchase: American Public Opinion, 7th
Edition, by Erikson and Tedin; Polling and the Public: What Every Citizen
Should Know, 6th Edition,
by Asher; Influence: Science
and Practice, 4th Edition, by Cialdini; and Energy, the Environment,
and Public Opinion, by Smith. All
are available at SBX.
September
23 |
Course introduction |
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Sep
28, 30 |
The science of public opinion research Public Opinion, chapter 1. |
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October
5, 7 |
The scope and methods of public opinion
research Public Opinion, chapter 2 |
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Oct
12, 14 |
Sources of opinion: The psychology of
attitudes Public Opinion, chapter 3 |
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Oct
19, 21 |
Sources of opinion: Knowledge and
ideology Public Opinion, chapter 4. |
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Oct
26, 28 |
Sources of opinion: Values, political culture,
and self-interest Public Opinion, chapter 6. |
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November
2, 4 |
*Election Week* Polling and the Public, chapter 7 |
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Nov
9, 11 |
Attitude change Influence: Science and Practice, chapters
1-5 |
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Nov
16, 18 |
Mass media and public opinion Public Opinion, chapter 8 Essay posted on November 16; due
November 23 |
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Nov
23 |
Public opinion and political change Public Opinion, chapters 9, 10 |
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Nov
30 |
Public opinion and democracy Public Opinion, chapter 12 |
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Final Examination: Thursday, December 9, 1:30
PM |
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