Course Syllabus

This is a reading, discussion, and research seminar that will introduce you to the literature on political participation, voting behavior, and related aspects of public opinion. There is an enormous literature in this field, and it is growing all of the time. Nonetheless, at the end of this course, you will have an excellent foundation in the field. I include a few classic readings, but most are contemporary works that represent the latest theories and empirical work as well as suggest new directions for study. Where appropriate, the material deals with public opinion more broadly and with institutional factors that influence voting behavior. At times I bring in appropriate comparative studies, though most of the work is on the U.S. You should finish the course with a comprehensive understanding of past public opinion and voting behavior research and a good idea of the directions in which that research is now moving.