Public Opinion and U. S. Democracy (CVS-0138)

Spring 2024 · CVS 0138 · Tufts University · 3 credits · Undergraduate

Explores the relationship between public opinion and the political process in the United States. Public opinion and how it is measured, with an emphasis on understanding the science of polling and survey research. Topics include the nature of attitude formation, stability and change; the role of social identities in shaping how people approach politics; the link between attitudes and behavior; how elites influence opinion; political inequality; partisan polarization; and the relationship between public opinion and policy outcomes. Particular attention is paid to understanding the role that race, ethnicity, sex, and sexual identity play in understanding political divisions in U. S. politics.

Course codes: CVS-0138, CVS 0138, CVS0138, CVS-138, CVS 138, CVS138, PS-0108, PS 0108, PS0108, PS-108, PS 108, PS108

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