Political Science 473G POT 1653
TR 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM, CB 247 Office Hours: TR 1:30-2:30
Fall 2007 Voice-mail: 257-7033
Email: mpeffl@uky.edu
CLASS WEB-PAGE
The syllabus is posted at my web-site (http://www.uky.edu/AS/PoliSci/Peffley/), where new material (e.g., lecture outlines, exam review questions, written assignments) is posted and updated throughout the semester.
READINGS
Several texts are assigned for this course, all of which are available at the university bookstores.
· Russell Brooker and Todd Schaefer. Public Opinion in the 21st Century Let the People Speak? 2006.
In addition, several required readings are posted on the class web page.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Graduate students should see me about additional readings and a research paper.
2. Participation
Students are expected to have read and considered the course readings in preparation for each class. Students are also expected to participate in class discussions and to be ready to do so on the subject of the day. Class participation is 5% of the grade and will definitely influence borderline grades.
Our class time will not be spent simply "going over" the assigned readings. Rather, the readings will serve as a foundation and point of departure for lectures and discussions. It is, therefore, imperative that students complete the assigned readings before a particular topic is taken up in class. Also, the assigned readings should not be viewed as absolute truth. Read the material thoughtfully, challenge the conclusions of the authors, and voice your criticisms in class.
Students should feel free to raise questions concerning the readings, the lectures, and the comments of other students. In other words, meaningful participation is strongly encouraged and will, no doubt, enhance the quality of our class sessions.
3. Examinations and Grades
Grades will be based on the following criteria:
Midterm 40% of Grade
Final Exam 50% of Grade
Class Participation 10% of Grade
While class attendance is not mandatory, exam questions will be based approximately equally on both the readings and class discussions.
If a student has a university-excused absence, arrangements for a make-up exam may be made. (See Section 5.2.4.2, Part II of the Student Rights and Responsibilities handbook for a definition of university-excused absences.) Note, however, that the format of a make-up will not be the same as the regular exam.
Tentative Reading List
Normative and empirical perspectives on public opinion
I. Introduction (Aug. 23)
II. Normative Perspectives: What Role Should Public Opinion Play in Democratic Government? (Aug 28)
Read: Brooker and Schaefer, Chs 1 (“A Decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind”) and 11 (“Should Government Listen? The Democratic Dilemma”)
Lecture Outline on Normative Bases of Public Opinion
Aug. 30: Film, APSA Conference
III. Empirical Perspectives: Tools and Theories for Studying Public Opinion (Sept 4): 4 classes
Theories of the Survey Response
Read: Brooker and Schaefer, Chs 2 (“Measuring Public Opinion: Survey Research”), 3 (“Measuring Public Opinion: Other Methods”), and 4 (“Organizing Public Opinion”)
Lecture Outline on Empirical Bases of Public Opinion I: Mass Political Sophistication
Film: “The Persuaders” (Frontline)
Further Reading, Examples:
Lecture Outline on Checklist of Problems with Surveys
IV. Why Americans Hate Government and How They Think It Should Work (Sept 18): 3 classes
Read: Hibbing and Theiss-Morse (HTM), Stealth Democracy, entire.
Lecture Outline on Stealth Democracy
Regression Analysis: quick & dirty
Review Questions for Midterm (available 1 week before the exam)
October 11: MIDTERM EXAMINATION
October 19 - Friday - Last day to withdraw from class.
THE EXTERNAL SOURCES OF PUBLIC OPINION
V. The External Sources of Public Opinion (Oct. 16): 4 classes
Read: Brooker and Schaefer, Chs 5 (“Sources of Public Opinion: Political Socialization”), 6 (“The Mass Media and Public Opinion”), 7 (“Historical Development of Political Issues”)
Lecture Outline: Public Opinion and the News Media
Film: “News War, Part I” (Frontline)
Further Reading and Viewing:
“Misperceptions, the Media, and Iraq War” (The Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA))
“Jessica Lynch: Media Myth-Making in the Iraq War” (Journalism.org)
“New York Times Admits Iraq Faults” (BBC)
Lecture Outline on Persuasion and Propaganda
Persuasive appeals
“Bush's ‘Victory’ Speech on Iraq War Echoes Voice of an Analyst” (NYT article)
“When Osama Became Saddam: Origins and Consequences of the Change in America's Public Enemy #1” (Scott Althaus & Devon Largio)
“Homer Gets a Tax Cut” (Larry Bartels)
A TIMELINE OF THE IRAQ WAR (skim for sense of how the Bush administration and its critics framed messages on the Iraq War over time)
View presidential ads as examples of persuasive appeals at these websites
Presidential Campaign Ads, 2000, 2004, 2008 (Political Communication Lab, Stanford University)
Presidential Campaign ads, 1952-2004 (The Living Room Candidate, Museum of the Moving Image)
The Consequences of Public Opinion
VI. Public Opinion and Public Policy I: Welfare and Crime Policy (Nov 1): 3 classes
Read: Brooker and Schaefer, Ch 8 (“Public Opinion Today”)
Gilens, Why Americans Hate Welfare, entire
Lecture Outline: Review Questions for Gilens
IV. Public Opinion and Public Policy II: The Consequences of Public Opinion (Nov 13)
Read: Brooker and Schaefer, Ch 9 (“Speaking Up: The People Tell the Government What They Think”), 10 (“The Government Listens: Taking the Pulse of the People”), 12 (“Does the Government Listen? The Democratic Dialogue”), 13 (“The "New Referendum:" Presidential Approval”), 14 (“Public Opinion and American Politics at the Dawn of the Twenty-First Century”)
Lecture Outline: The Consequences of Public Opinion (to be added)
Nov. 22: Thanksgiving break started Nov. 21!
Dec 6: Last Day of Class
December 13: FINAL EXAMINATION: THURSDAY, 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM
