[ Wesleyan Home Page ] [ WesMaps Home Page ] [ WesMaps Archive ] [ Course Search ] [ Course Search by CID ]
Academic Year 2005/2006

Public Opinion and Electoral Politics
GOVT 232 FA

This course focuses on three core questions. First, can people control political leaders through public opinion and elections? Second, to what degree can opinion surveys serve leaders as reliable guides to public preferences on public policy alternatives? Third, to what degree can leaders influence, manipulate, or inform ordinary citizens through political campaigning and mass communications? Specific topics include the social psychology of attitudes, ideologies, and prejudice; rationality and voting; policy making for electoral purposes; media advertising and campaign techniques; and political generations and the dynamics of attitude change. Special attention will be given to computer-based analyses of contemporary U.S. elections using SPSS, with a special focus on the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections.

MAJOR READINGS

Major readings not known

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Three research projects, mid-term exam and final exam.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Students who wish to be eligible to register for the course during Drop/Add should add themselves to the enrollment request system during on-line registration. Enrollment request preference rankings will be one factor I will consider in making Drop/Add period registration decisions. We will meet on Fridays from 11:00-11:50 several times in the first six weeks for instruction in SPSS. Do not sign up for this class if you cannot attend these sessions.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS GOVT    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-30-2006

Contact wesmaps@wesleyan.edu to submit comments or suggestions. Please include a url, course title, faculty name or other page reference in your email

Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459