Over the past two decades, the study of public opinion, once a major concern of political scientists, has become a subject of interest for sociologists and social psychologists.
By applying the techniques of their profession, these specialists have greatly contributed to our understanding of public opinion. But in doing so, they have also largely abstracted it from its governmental framework.
We have, therefore, numerous research findings that are frequently characterized by their methodological virtuosity, and sometimes also by their theoretical relevance, but whose connection to the functioning of the governmental system is not always clear.
The purpose of this book has been relatively modest: to attempt to place new knowledge about public opinion within a political context. Ultimately, achieving this purpose requires calculating the degree to which public opinion influences what the government does or does not do. It must be acknowledged that carrying out these calculations encounters almost insurmountable obstacles.
But knowledge of the microscopic aspects of public opinion will be of little use to us if we cannot grasp the relationship between this fragmented information and the functioning of the political system as a whole.
Our efforts in this regard have necessarily been tentative and often speculative. We hope, however, that our purpose has been partially achieved through an analysis that may be of some use to those interested in clarifying and determining the influence of public opinion on the American government.
A favorable set of circumstances allowed me to begin this research. McGeorge Bundy, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, appointed me Ford Research Professor of Government for 1959-60, an appointment that enabled me to work for an extended period at the Survey Research Center at the University of Michigan.
The kindness of Professor Angus Campbell, director of the Center, facilitated our work, as did our free access to the materials compiled by the Center in its surveys of presidential elections.
These materials allowed me to use empirical data closely linked to many of the theoretical questions of interest to public opinion scholars. Perhaps for many of our readers, the book’s primary value lies in the new data from the SRC surveys.
Only those who have worked with survey data will be able to appreciate the magnitude of my obligation to the Center. The materials presented here are essentially byproducts of its extensive work using the information obtained from its interviews.
A researcher generously granted access to the information may use it in ways that might raise eyebrows among its compilers. This disclaimer, therefore, carries particular weight here: the Survey Research Center is not to be held responsible in any way for what we have done with its data.
We also owe a special debt of gratitude to Dean Bundy and Professor Campbell. Our appreciation extends as well to all those who, in one way or another, generously assisted us. Professor James K. Pollock, Chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Michigan, went above and beyond in his friendship to make our stay in Ann Arbor pleasant and productive.
Warren E. Miller y Donald E. Stokes, miembros del Departamento de Ciencia Política y del S, R. C. de la Universidad de Michigan, nos guiaron en el análisis de los datos obtenidos en las encuestas y nos ayudaron en muchísimos otros aspectos.
Cualquier mérito que nuestro libro pueda tener, se deberá en gran parte a nuestro ayudante de investigación, Nancy W. Mendelsohn, quien logró combinar su dominio en el manejo de las complicadas máquinas IBM con su conocimiento íntimo acerca del contenido sustancial de los materiales del SRC.
We also benefited greatly from the advice of several friends and colleagues who reviewed our manuscript. Oliver Garceau of East Boothbay, Maine; Avery Leiserson of Vanderbilt University; David B. Truman of Columbia University; and Joseph Cooper of Harvard University offered their comments with the sincerity born of friendship.
Had we possessed the wisdom to take all their criticisms to heart, this book would certainly have been much better. We express our gratitude to all of them for their help and, of course, absolve them of any responsibility for this work.
Publishing: Bibliográfica Omeba | Year: 1964 | Pages: 367 | PDF download not available