Instructor: Dr. M. Sharp Office: SH317
Phone: (918) 456-5511, x3530
Office Hours: 8:00-10:00 MWF, 1:00-2:00 T, 3:30-4:30 (Tulsa)
REQUIRED TEXTS: American Public Opinion by Erikson and
Tedin, Polling and the Public by Asher, and Who's Running America?--The
Clinton Years
by Thomas R. Dye.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: This course will examine the interplay between
public opinion, political behavior and public policy. First we must
attempt to define "public opinion" and second, we need to examine the manner
in which public opinion may be quantified or measured. Once these
preliminary responsibilities have been met, we can begin to develop an
appreciation for the varied and diverse ways in which public opinion affects
political behavior and vise-versa.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Students are expected to stay current with
the assigned readings and participate in class discussions of the reading
materials. There is a formal paper requirement for the course.
The paper must be type-written, double spaced and documented (footnotes
and bibliography) along the guidelines provided by Turabian, The Chicago
Manual of Style, or some other acceptable writing-reference manual (see
sample handout). The purpose of this paper is twofold. First
it should provide the opportunity to explore in depth the manner in which,
or the extent to which, public opinion has affected a particular item or
topic of public policy. Second, and equally important, it will provide
an exercise in well-organized, clear, concise, research and thoughtful
writing. There is no pre-determined length for this paper.
However, as a guideline, it is rather inconceivable that a very thorough
treatment could be given to any topic in less than a minimum of ten (10)
pages or that an adequate treatment could not be rendered in a maximum
of twenty (20) to thirty (30) pages. Substantively, this paper should
illustrate the relationship between some particular facet of political
behavior or public policy and the role that public opinion played in that
eventual political behavior or in the formulation, promulgation, or resolution
of the public policy issue.
GRADING: Grades will be determined primarily from three exams
and the research paper. Two of the exams will be given during the
semester and the final exam will be given on the designated day during
final week. Each exam and the paper will be weighted equally.
Class participation is not graded per se but may be factored into the final
evaluation, particularly in marginal
cases.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: If any member of the class feels that
he/she has a disability and needs special accommodations please advise
the instructor of such disability at the first class attended. If
any student encounters particular difficulty with any aspect of the material
being covered, he/she is encouraged to seek individual assistance from
the instructor at the designated office hours listed above or by special
appointment as arranged.
COURSE OUTLINE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS
The general course outline and readings will follow the Erikson-Tedin text. The Asher text will be integrated into this material as indicated with the Dye text finishing the course.
Erikson-Tedin -- American Public Opinion
Chapter 1 Public Opinion in Democratic
Societies
2 Polling: The Scientific Assessment of Public Opinion
Asher -- Polling and the Public
3 Microlevel Opinion: The Psychology of Opinion Holding
4 Macrolevel Opinion: The Flow of Political Sentiment
5 Political Socialization and Political Learning
6 Public Opinion and Democratic Stability
7 Group Differences in Political Opinions
8 The Print and Broadcast Media and Public Opinions
9 Elections as Instruments of Popular Control
10 The Public and Its Elected Representatives
11 Parties and Interest Groups: Mediating Institutions and
Representation
12 Public Opinion and the Performance of Democracy
Dye, Chapters 1-5
Supplemental reading assignments may be integrated into the overall
structure provided by these two general texts.