Description
Book SynopsisThis 1992 book explains how people acquire political information from elites and the mass media and convert it into political preferences.
Trade 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
Table of ContentsList of tables and figures; Preface; 1. Introduction: the fragmented state of opinion research; 2. Information, predispositions, and opinion; 3. How citizens acquire information and convert it into public opinion; 4. Coming to terms with response instability; 5. Making it up as you go along; 6. The mainstream and polarization effects; 7. Basic processes of 'attitude change'; 8. Tests of the one-message model; 9. Two-sided information flows; 10. Information flow and electoral choice; 11. Evaluating the model and looking toward future research; 12. Epilogue: the question of elite domination of public opinion; Measures appendix; References; Index.
