Public Opinion - Softcover

"Simply the best book published on public opinion today. No other authors do a better job in covering how public opinion is formed, measured, and used in democratic society. Scholars and students of public opinion will love reading and learning form this superb book." -Kenneth F. Warren, Saint Louis University; President of the Warren Poll; and author of In Defense of Public Opinion Polling "Public Opinion is a delightful text that is both theoretically sophisticated and imminently readable. A valuable teaching resource that covers the traditional material thoroughly but also includes unique topics that draw on the broad expertise of its authors." -Clyde Wilcox, Georgetown University

Public Opinion is a comprehensive and interdisciplinary examination of public opinion formation and change. The authors explore the nature of political and social attitudes in the United States and how these attitudes are shaped by various institutions, with an emphasis on mass media. The book draws on the wide range of scholarship in political science, psychology, sociology, and communications to help undergraduates understand public opinion in America. The book surveys the public opinion field, but it also serves as a provocative starting point for the discussion of citizen moods, political participation, and voting behavior. Multiple sidebars, illustrations, tables, and figures enable students to explore all aspects of the elusive phenomenon we call public opinion. Thoroughly updated, this edition includes new data and discussions throughout, including a chapter on economic and rational choice approaches to understanding public opinion. The chapters are carefully constructed to introduce terms and concepts to both advanced students and those unfamiliar with the field.