Analyzing Public Opinion & Propaganda: A Case Study of the 2020 Presidential Debates

Background: Origins and Influences on Public Opinion History

Public Opinion & Propaganda Conduct your own research related to areas of public opinion of greatest interest to you. Consider the following areas we have studied or that we will study related to Public Opinion:

1. Meanings & history
2. Democratic theory
3. Research methods
4. Psychology
5. Economic approaches and Perception & opinion formation
7. Political economy
8. Policy
9. Communicating with the public & conflict
10. Campaigning Your specific case study is : The 2020 Presidential debates Might want to focus on one debate, and one issue specifically due to time and length requirements e.g., policing, economy, race, etc.

Address the following in your paper:
1. Background: Provide background for your example. Explain its origins. When and why does it emerge with respect to the history of public opinion? How does it influence the course of public opinion history?

2. Meanings: How does your chosen case study relate to, support, or refute definitions of public opinion (e.g., public opinion is aggregates, public opinion reflects group interests, public opinion reflects majority beliefs, etc. You must engage meaningfully with at least two of these definitions.

3. History: Are there particular theorists in the history of public opinion whose ideas are relevant to your chosen case study (e.g., Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Marx, Jamieson, etc.)?

 

Are they early thinkers, conflict or contract theorists, revolutionaries, or contemporary thinkers? You must engage with at least two theorists/thinkers related to public opinion.

4. Methods: You must meaningfully discuss how research methods could be (or could have been) employed to examine your case study. If it is a recent or contemporary election or a debate, how were polls conducted? Were interviews or focus groups employed to study this event? In what ways (e.g., in person, telephone, internet, mail, etc.).

 

How might you have conducted a poll for an historical election? Or, alternatively, how might you utilize a content analysis to study it retrospectively?

 

How can you use content analysis to study contemporary events? You must engage meaningfully with two methodologies for studying public opinion, regardless of whether it is an historical or contemporary event.

 

5. Choose Another Perspective: What theories of psychology related to public opinion might be relevant? Economic approaches? Political economy, etc.? Engage with two approaches to public opinion in the context or your chosen case stay, and this means incorporating relevant terminology.

 

6. Cite Glynn & Herbst, et al, in relevant, meaningful ways that contribute to your arguments.

 

7. Cite news at least two news articles and/or other credible online resources that support your arguments.

 

8. Cite at least two peer-reviewed communication studies relevant to your chosen example

• 3-4 pages maximum, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman, 1-inch margins (not including references section).