The Dynamics of Public Opinion

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title The Dynamics of Public Opinion
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Mary Layton Atkinson
By (author) K. Elizabeth Coggins
By (author) James A. Stimson
By (author) Frank R. Baumgartner
SeriesElements in American Politics
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:75
Dimensions(mm): Height 227,Width 152
ISBN/Barcode 9781108819114
ClassificationsDewey:320.973
Audience
General
Illustrations Worked examples or Exercises

Publishing Details

Publisher Cambridge University Press
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publication Date 11 November 2021
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

A central question in political representation is whether government responds to the people. To understand that, we need to know what the government is doing, and what the people think of it. We seek to understand a key question necessary to answer those bigger questions: How does American public opinion move over time? We posit three patterns of change over time in public opinion, depending on the type of issue. Issues on which the two parties regularly disagree provide clear partisan cues to the public. For these party-cue issues we present a slight variation on the thermostatic theory from (Soroka and Wlezien (2010); Wlezien (1995)); our "implied thermostatic model." A smaller number of issues divide the public along lines unrelated to partisanship, and so partisan control of government provides no relevant clue. Finally, we note a small but important class of issues which capture response to cultural shifts.