Universität Wien

210050 SE BAK13: SE State Activity, Policy and Governance Analyses (2018S)

Representation and Public Opinion

6.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 21 - Politikwissenschaft
Continuous assessment of course work

A registration via u:space during the registration phase is required. Late registrations are NOT possible.
Students who miss the first lesson without prior notification will lose their seat in the course.

Follow the principles of good scientific practice.

The course instructor may invite students to an oral exam about the student’s written contributions in the course. Plagiarized contributions have the consequence that the course won’t be graded (instead the course will be marked with an ‘X’ in the transcript of records).
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 50 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 06.03. 08:30 - 10:00 Seminarraum H10, Rathausstraße 19, Stiege 2, Hochparterre
  • Tuesday 13.03. 08:30 - 10:00 Seminarraum H10, Rathausstraße 19, Stiege 2, Hochparterre
  • Tuesday 20.03. 08:30 - 10:00 Seminarraum H10, Rathausstraße 19, Stiege 2, Hochparterre
  • Tuesday 10.04. 08:30 - 10:00 Seminarraum H10, Rathausstraße 19, Stiege 2, Hochparterre
  • Tuesday 17.04. 08:30 - 10:00 Seminarraum H10, Rathausstraße 19, Stiege 2, Hochparterre
  • Tuesday 24.04. 08:30 - 10:00 Seminarraum H10, Rathausstraße 19, Stiege 2, Hochparterre
  • Tuesday 08.05. 08:30 - 10:00 Seminarraum H10, Rathausstraße 19, Stiege 2, Hochparterre
  • Tuesday 15.05. 08:30 - 10:00 Seminarraum H10, Rathausstraße 19, Stiege 2, Hochparterre
  • Tuesday 29.05. 08:30 - 10:00 Seminarraum H10, Rathausstraße 19, Stiege 2, Hochparterre
  • Tuesday 05.06. 08:30 - 10:00 Seminarraum H10, Rathausstraße 19, Stiege 2, Hochparterre
  • Tuesday 12.06. 08:30 - 10:00 Seminarraum H10, Rathausstraße 19, Stiege 2, Hochparterre
  • Tuesday 19.06. 08:30 - 10:00 Seminarraum H10, Rathausstraße 19, Stiege 2, Hochparterre
  • Tuesday 26.06. 08:30 - 10:00 Seminarraum H10, Rathausstraße 19, Stiege 2, Hochparterre

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

In a democracy, the views of citizens are expected to guide government activity and public policy. That makes public opinion a central concern in the study of democratic politics. This course examines public opinion in contemporary politics. The course will emphasize both how citizens' thinking about politics is shaped and the role of public opinion in political campaigns, elections, and government. We will discuss how to conceptualize and measure public opinion, where opinions “come from,” the nature of opinion about several salient issues, and whether public opinion affects policymaking. We will also consider normative questions, including the role opinion should play in a democracy. The course has four learning objectives:

1) You will evaluate theories of how people form opinions and answer survey questions.
2) You will comprehend how surveys are conducted and how to interpret their results.
3) You will understand—and reflect on—debates about the “competence” of the public and how much public opinion should affect public policy.

Each seminar will center on a critical analysis of the assigned readings for the week. Although I hope that much of our class time will be spent in group discussion, I will typically open with a commentary on the week's readings. At the end of each seminar I will introduce the next week’s readings – describing them briefly and suggesting issues for you to think about.

Assessment and permitted materials

Participation (15% of the grade)

Research paper at the end of the course (55% of the grade)

Survey exercise (30% of the grade)

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Examination topics

Reading list

Donsbach, Wolfgang and Traugott, Michael W. 2008. Handbook of Public Opinion Research. Los Angeles, California

Dalton, Russell J. 2014. Citizen Politics. NJ: Chatham House

Robert M. Groves, Floyd J. Fowler, Mick P. Couper, James M. Lepkowski, EleanorSinger, and Roger Tourangeau. 2004. Survey Methodology. Wiley-Interscience

Adam J. Berinsky. 2011. New Directions in Public Opinion, Routledge.

Marc Hetherington and Jonathan Weiler. 2009. Authoritarianism and Polarization in American Politics. Cambridge University Press.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Fr 01.10.2021 00:21