Public Opinion is a comprehensive and multidisciplinary examination of public opinion in the USA. Drawing on scholarship in political science, psychology, sociology, and communications, it explores the nature of political and social attitudes in the USA and how these attitudes are shaped by various institutions, with an emphasis on mass media.

Preface Part One: Introducing Public Opinion 1. The Meanings of Public Opinion 2. The History of Public Opinion 3. Methods for Studying Public Opinion Part Two: Theories of Public Opinion 4. Public Opinion and Democratic Theory 5. Psychological Perspectives on Public Opinion 6. Stereotyping, Social Norms, and Public Opinion 7. Perception and Opinion Formation 8. Economic Approaches Part Three: Public Opinion in Context 9. Content and Conflict in Public Opinion 10. Public Opinion and Policymaking 11. Communicating, Campaigning and the Public (TK) 12. Looking Ahead