Editorial Reviews
Review
'Zaller's volume is a giant step forward int he development of a systematic understanding of the dynamics of public opinion ... This is a splendid contribution.' Philip E. Converse, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioural Sciences
'A model of what social science can be at its finest, The Nature and Origins of Mass Opinion reshapes the field in ways that will reverberate throughout the study of public opinion, elections, and the relationship between elites and the mass public for decades.' John Aldrich, Duke University
'Zaller's book is the most significant contribution to the scientific study of public opinion in alomost three decades.' Larry Bartels, Princeton University
Book Description
In this book John Zaller develops a comprehensive theory to explain how people acquire political information from the mass media and convert it into political preferences. Using numerous specific examples, Zaller applies this theory in order to explain the dynamics of public opinion on a broad range of subjects, including both domestic and foreign policy, trust in government, racial equality, and presidential approval, as well as voting behavior in U.S. House, Senate and Presidential elections. Particularly perplexing characteristics of public opinion are also examined, such as the high degree of random fluctuations in political attitudes observed in opinion surveys and the changes in attitudes due to minor changes in the wording of survey questions.
The Nature and Origins of Mass Opinion (Cambridge Studies in Public Opinion and Political Psychology),John R. Zaller,James H. Kuklinski,Dennis Chong,Cambridge University Press,0521407869,Attitude (Psychology),General,Political Science,Political psychology,Politics / Current Events,Politics/International Relations,Public opinion,Public opinion polls,Political Science / General,Public opinion & polls,Sociology, Social Studies
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