Course Overview
Focus: the political beliefs, opinions, and attitudes of
Americans.
What's the difference between beliefs, opinions, and
attitudes?
Where do these things come from?
What causes them to change?
How does the government respond to public opinion?  How
does it attempt to shape it?
The social science approach.
What are the goals, principles, and techniques of good
social research?
Why do we call public opinion research “scientific”?