Political Science: Public Opinion & Voting

An examination of the quality and sophistication of public attitudes, as well as the motivations that underlie political participation and electoral choice. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisites: POLS 1300 or POLS 1013; three hours of Political Science at the 2000-level.

Prereqs enforced by the system: POLS 1300 or POLS 1013; three hours of Political Science at the 2000 level. Minimum Junior standing. Open to Jr/Sr POLS majors only until April 9th. PACE students by permission and override.

The phrase vox populi lies at the heart of modern democratic government. How should “the voice of the people” be captured, and do politicians really listen? This Fall, in POLS 3430: “Public Opinion and Voting,” we’ll explore cutting edge research on the mechanics of polling—including why the polls have been disastrously wrong in recent years—and we’ll tackle a range of other pressing issues, too, from the dynamics of public attention on climate change, to partisan resistance to COVID-19 vaccines, the dramatic shift in attitudes towards immigration, and the dangerous spread of misinformation and “fake news” online. What is public opinion? Where does it come from? How does it change? And why does it matter? Enroll today to find out!

Our emphasis throughout the semester will be on critical thinking and the development of strong, analytical writing skills. Graded assignments are designed to evaluate your growth in these areas. Assignments are also designed to give you many opportunities, using different skills, to build a strong grade in this course.

Your attendance and active participation is essential to the effectiveness of this class. You are expected to attend every class session and to be prepared to discuss the issues raised in the reading assignments. Please read the materials before class on the date they are listed. Your oral communication skills will account for 25% of your final score. The remainder of your grade will be determined by a progressive research project on a subject of your choice (e.g., climate change, abortion rights, immigration, racial attitudes, etc.), broken into three components. In the first stage, you will identify and summarize historical and current polls related to your subject area by writing a short magazine-style article that communicates that information to a wider audience. In the second, you will write an annotated bibliography that summarizes peer-reviewed scholarship on your topic. In the third and final component, you will present your findings to the class and prepare a formal 10-15 page essay that uses the information you have gathered throughout the semester to assess the impact of public opinion on the political system.