Public Opinion: Measuring the American Mind
The latest edition of this popular public opinion text is as useful and informative as its past versions. It covers all the central concepts necessary for a full understanding of the how public opinion is measured and also includes several chapters that address Americans’ views on range of salient issues. There simply is not a better book for an introductory course on public opinion.(Jason B. Gainous, University of Louisville)This text offers undergraduate students the full package, beginning with the history of polling and then guiding them through the measurement, usage, and origins of public opinion. It teaches students the essentials without overburdening them with a laundry list of terms and academic scholarship. The core strength of this text is the four chapters on public opinion toward controversial issues, such as race, social welfare, and foreign policy. Few books on the market offer such a detailed and engaging discussion of these areas. With this book in hand, students leave the classroom as better public opinion scholars and consumers.(Terri Towner, Oakland University)