Mass Informed Consent: Evidence on Upgrading Democracy with Polls and New Media

by Adam F. Simon

Overview

Public opinion polling permeates today's politics, yet many seem suspicious of polls and skeptical in their prominence, fearing that overreliance on public opinion amounts to pandering or that pollsters can manipulate a feeble public. In this book Adam Simon argues that democracy requires that government listen to the public and that sample surveys are the finest democratic technology yet devised. He lays out the fundamentals of public opinion research and illustrates his discussion of the science of polling with recent political hot button issues as case studies_the decision to invade Iraq, partial birth abortion, and the Clinton health care debate. He advocates that poll results meet the standard for mass informed consent and should play a larger role in our politics. Simon concludes with recommendations to improve democracy from the standpoint of citizens, politicians, and the media. Mass Informed Consent will be of special interest to students of public opinion, political behavior, media and politics, interest group politics, and political communication.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442209343
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	01/16/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	238
File size:	813 KB

About the Author

Adam Simon teaches political science at Yale University.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Who deserves the blame for Invading Iraq (and Other Mistakes)?
Chapter 2: The Yes, No and Don't Knows of Political Polling
Chapter 3: Gently Introducing Science, Starring the Median Voter Model and a Test of Citizens' Independence
Chapter 4: Why Do Americans Favor Some Things yet Oppose Others? And, Explaining Republican Success against Partial Birth Abortion
Chapter 5: Questions Are Just as Important as Answers, Particularly in a Study of Public Opinion on the Iraq Invasion
Chapter 6: Debunking Manipulation Myths, Featuring the Infamous Harry and Louise
Chapter 7: Political Reforms and Thoughts on Media Old and New
Chapter 8 Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

Adam Simon offers us an intelligent and useful guide to understanding the uses and significance of good public opinion polling. His case studies are particularly helpful to both the seasoned pro and the beginning student of vox populi.” —John Zogby, Chairman and Chief Insights Office Zogby International

“The book's underlying assumption is that the public...will usually make rational decisions, rather than being misled irrationally by what Simon views as propaganda. Walter Lippmann and John Dewey appear as opposing symbols through the book, one as an advocate of decisions led by elites, the other urging input from ordinary citizens.” —Political Science Quarterly

““Simon provides a whirlwind tour of polling, the statistical tools needed to analyze polls, and relevant ideas about public opinion”” —Political Science Quarterly

From the Publisher

Adam Simon offers us an intelligent and useful guide to understanding the uses and significance of good public opinion polling. His case studies are particularly helpful to both the seasoned pro and the beginning student of vox populi.

John Zogby

The book's underlying assumption is that the public...will usually make rational decisions, rather than being misled irrationally by what Simon views as propaganda. Walter Lippmann and John Dewey appear as opposing symbols through the book, one as an advocate of decisions led by elites, the other urging input from ordinary citizens.

Political Science Quarterly