Note: any changes to the syllabus will be posted here.

PS4283/6283 Public Opinion
Dr. Steve Shaffer
Fall 2025 Semester
Class Time: 11 MWF
Classroom: McCool 109

Office: Bowen 198
Office Hours: 10-11 M,W,F
Prof's e-mail: kauai@pspa.msstate.edu
website: http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/classes/opinion/opinion.html

This course revolves primarily around the nature of American public opinion, as well as the means of political communication, the influence of the press, and pressure groups and propaganda techniques.

We begin by examining the interrelationships between public opinion, the mass media, interest groups, and public officials and public policy in general terms. We then examine how public opinion is measured through opinion polling techniques, using the Mississippi Poll as an example. We then examine in detail the specific political opinions that Americans hold on both national and state public policy issues, as well as how various demographic groups differ in their policy orientations.

In the second half of the course, we examine partisan-related attitudes, how people obtain their attitudes, and their impact on elections. We first examine the overall belief systems that people possess, studying how ideologically sophisticated they are. We also study the partisan-related attitudes that people possess, such as their party identification, ideological identification, and their evaluation of the President. We also examine the role of socialization, attitude theories, and democratic support in shaping people's viewpoints. We then examine how public opinion shapes people's votes in election contests, and whether officials are accountable to voters. We conclude the course by estimating what impact public opinion actually does exert on public officials and public policy, and how much influence the media and pressure groups actually wield over the political process.

READINGS

The readings for this course shall come from the following book that can be obtained from the bookstore in paperback form.

American Public Opinion: Its Origins, Content, and Impact, 11th Edition, by Robert S. Erikson, Kent L. Tedin, Routledge publisher, 2023.

Students will also write a book report on this assigned book, and therefore should thoroughly read and understand it. The suggested page length to adequately review this book is approximately ten double-spaced typed pages.

METHOD OF EVALUATION

There will be three grading opportunities for undergraduates, each of which will be worth one-third of your course grade. They will consist of: a midsemester essay exam; a final, non-cumulative essay exam; and the written book report. In addition to these three requirements, graduate students (and those seeking graduate credit for the course) shall complete a research paper, and should see the professor on the first day of class. For such graduate credit students, each of these four grading opportunities will be worth one-fourth of your course grade. Class attendance is very important, since those with higher attendance usually do better gradewise. Also, failure to maintain a high attendance leaves the poor impression that a student is unable to meet the minimum requirements of any job, resulting in faculty refusal to offer any positive recommendations for jobs or graduate or law school.

The suggested page length for the book report is approximately ten double-spaced typed pages. Students should thoroughly read and understand all chapters of the book. You should provide numerous specifics of the important findings from each chapter of the book. You should also indicate the value of each chapter to the reader (or lack of helpfulness to a reader), providing specific examples. Make sure that you refer to some of the tables and figures in each of the chapter, showing what you learned from them and whether they were helpful to you. You should also have an introductory paragraph and a concluding paragraph of your paper, which deal with the book as a whole, and its theme and value as a whole.

Makeup exams will be permitted only under extraordinary circumstances that are beyond your control, such as personal illness or death in the family. You must notify me at least 24 hours before the test date or paper deadline. You can reach me by e-mail.

You are encouraged to talk with me about any of the lectures or readings you have difficulty understanding, about the book review, or about a topic for the graduate term paper. If you are unable to see me during office hours, a mutually convenient time can be arranged by e-mailing me.

The course delivery method is a face-to-face class, so you are expected to attend class whenever possible. If you do have to miss for any reason, send me an e-mail indicating when you are missing, and why you have to miss. Then, review the material we will be covering in class by going to my class Website, whose address is near the top of the first page of this syllabus. To receive attendance credit for attending that class, send me another e-mail indicating that you have reviewed the class lecture, ask any question about the lecture that you wish, make any comment about it, or just say that you have read and understood the lecture. While class attendance does not officially affect your course grade, it is still important to attend class whenever you can, since unexcused absences harm a person’s reputation.

UNIVERSITY POLICIES:

"The Mississippi State University Syllabus contains all policies and procedures that are applicable to every course on campus and online. The policies in the University Syllabus describe the official policies of the University and will take precedence over those found elsewhere. It is the student's responsibility to read and be familiar with every policy. The University Syllabus may be accessed at any time on the Provost website under Faculty and Student Resources and at https://www.provost.msstate.edu/faculty-student-resources/university-syllabus"

COURSE OUTLINE (time periods are approximations only, though test dates and assignment due dates are firm):

Week 1 (August 20-22)
Introduction to Public Opinion in American Democracy
Textbook, Read Chapter 1

Weeks 2-3 (August 25-September 5)
Political Polling Techniques
Textbook, Read Chapter 2

Week 4 (September 8-12)
Public Opinion on Policy Issues: Domestic Economic Issues
Textbook, Read Chapter 4

Week 5 (September 15-19)
Public Opinion on Policy Issues: Crime and Civil Liberty Issues
Textbook, Read Chapter 10; Review Chapter 4

Week 6 (September 22-26)
Public Opinion on Policy Issues: Race, Reform, and Foreign Affairs Issues
Textbook, Read Chapter 11; Review Chapter 4

Week 7 (September 29)
Wrap-up first half of course, review material if time permits

MIDSEMESTER ESSAY EXAM-- Wednesday, October 1

Review the first exam; discuss book review requirements (October 3)

Week 8 (October 6-8)
Public Political Sophistication
Textbook, Read Chapter 3

Week 9 (October 13-17)
Group Differences on Issues
Textbook, Read Chapter 7

Week 10 (October 20-24)
Socialization, Attitude Theories, Democratic Support
Textbook, Read Chapter 5

Week 11 (October 27-31)
Partisan Attitudes: Party, Ideology, President
Textbook, Read Chapter 6

Weeks 12-13 (November 3-14)
Elections and Accountability
Textbook, Read Chapter 9

Week 14 (November 17-21)
The Mass Media and Interest Group
Textbook, Read Chapter 8

WRITTEN BOOK REPORTS DUE ON Monday, November 24, 5 PM

Week 15 (November 24-December 1)
Public Opinion and American Democracy
Textbook, Review Chapters 10-11

(GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH PAPERS DUE ON Monday, December 1, 5 PM)

FINAL ESSAY EXAMINATION: Wednesday, December 10, Noon