PUBLIC OPINION
GRADO EN ESTUDIOS GLOBALES/GLOBAL STUDIES
Curso 2023/2024
1. Subject Information
(Date last modified: 08-01-24 14:19)- Code
- 109009
- Plan
- 290
- ECTS
- 6.00
- Type
- Basic
- Year
- 1
- Duration
- Second semester
- Language
- ENGLISH
- Area
- CIENCIA POLÍTICA Y DE LA ADMINISTRACIÓN
- Departament
- Derecho Público General
- Virtual platform
Professor Information
- Profesor/Profesora
- María del Mar Martínez Rosón
- Group/s
- Único
- Centre
- Fac. Derecho
- Office
- 157
- Office hours
- Upon request by email.
- Web address
- -
- roson@usal.es
- Phone
- -
- Professor
- Pablo Esteban Romero Medina
- Group/s
- Único
- Centre
- Fac. Derecho
- Office
- Espacio ACPA, Planta Jardín
- Office hours
- -
- Web address
- -
- promeromedina@usal.es
- Phone
- -
2. Association of the subject matter within the study plan
Curricular area to which the subject matter pertains.
FB: Formación Básica (Basic Training)
Purpose of the subject within the curricular area and study plan.
Basic course of the first year, provides basic theoretical and methodological training tools in political science, public opinion and survey data.
Professional profile.
The course is designed for careers analyzing public opinion polling and survey research.
3. Prerequisites
Basic Political Science concepts.
4. Learning objectives
This course explores different issues related to public opinion. Beginning with the more simple questions like what public opinion is we will move to more complex topics as how it can be measured or what effects it has.
5. Contents
Theory.
- Public Opinion and Theories of Democracy
- Public Opinion and Other Concepts
- Political Socialization
- Opinion change and stability
- Questionnaires
- Voting surveys and voting explanations
- Dynamics of public opinion
- Postmaterialism and materialism
- Impact of Public Opinion on Policy
Practice.
- What is a survey?
- Conducting a survey
- Examples of surveys: CIS, Eurobarometer, European Social Survey, World Value Survey, AmericasBarometer, Latinobarómetro, AsianBarometer, PELA, LAPOP.
- The Questionnaire
- Data Collection
- Analysis and Report
6. Competences acquired
Basic / General.
CB1 CB2 CB3 CB4
CG2 CG3
Specific.
CE 19
7. Teaching methods
THIS SUBJECT HAS NO CLASSES (NO LECTURES NOR PRACTICES), IT ONLY HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE THE EXAM.
Each week is organized in two sessions. In one session will focus on different theoretical aspects based on the literature. In the second session, we will work with specific surveys and data from national and international institutions and projects like the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas or the Eurobarometer. The aim of the course is to bring to the student the analytical and conceptual tools needed to understand and analyze public opinion and surveys results.
8. Anticipated distribution of the use of the different teaching methods

9. Resources
Reference books.
Rosalee A. Clawson and Zoe M. Oxley. 2017. Public Opinion: Democratic Ideals, Democratic Practice. Sage.
Fisher et al. 2018. The Routledge Handbook of Elections, Voting Behavior and Public Opinion. London and New York: Routledge.
Donsbach and Traugott (eds). 2008. The SAGE Handbook of Public Opinion Research. London: Sage.
Bethlehem. 2018. Understanding Public Opinion Polls. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis Group.
Dalton. 2014. Citizen Politics. Chatham, NJ: Chatham House.
10. Assessment
General considerations.
THIS SUBJECT HAS NO CLASSES (NO LECTURES NOR PRACTICES), IT ONLY HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE THE EXAM.
All students are expected to keep up with the required readings and to attend classes.
Assessment criteria.
THIS SUBJECT HAS NO CLASSES (NO LECTURES NOR PRACTICES), IT ONLY HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE THE EXAM.
All late assignments will not be evaluated
Assessment tools.
Course assignments:
Final Exam (100%): Multiple-choice exam will include theoretical and practical questions.
Assessment recommendations.
THIS SUBJECT HAS NO CLASSES (NO LECTURES NOR PRACTICES), IT ONLY HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE THE EXAM.
Attend classes. Do the readings. Do the exercises and other assignments on time. All late assignments will not be evaluated. If you do not upload your exercises, quizzes and essays before the due date you will not have another opportunity.
Academic dishonesty will not be allowed.
Guidelines in the case of failing the subject.
You will have two opportunities to take the final exam.
THIS SUBJECT HAS NO CLASSES (NO LECTURES NOR PRACTICES), IT ONLY HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE THE EXAM.