Today's Question: What is political typology and how does it contribute to our understanding of the political spectrum and the public's political identity?
Vocabulary:
intensity
political typology
Introduction:
It is one thing to determine where on the political spectrum one lands. It is another to figure out with which group or label one might be associated. Just as the political spectrum is not simply a matter of left, center, or right, one's political typology is not just a matter of being Democrat, independent, or Republican.
Activities:
The Pew Research Center conducts extensive polling to help paint a more accurate - and complex - picture of the American public's political views and affiliations. Based on the data, the Center has developed a breakdown of what it calls political typology.
First, click "Beyond Red vs. Blue." Read the introduction ("Overview" to "Partisan Dividing Line"), taking down key points as you go along. Then with a partner, develop your own definition of political typology based on what you read.
Next, with the same partner examine the charts below from the same Web page and answer the question that follows each:
1. What is the purpose of this chart? Is there any correlation in the different groups between their percentage in the general public vs. that of registered voters? Are there any anomalies to this correlation, if it exists?
2. From the data presented in this chart and your knowledge of the political spectrum, what contradictions might be present between ideology and expressed political attitudes within the specific groups?
3. What is the purpose of this chart? In what ways do race and age play a role in the typology?
4. What does this data say about how intensely staunch liberals and staunch conservatives feel about President Obama and his policies?
Finally, watch this video summarizing the Pew Research Center's findings:
Assignment/Homework:
-Take the quiz to see where you fit within the typology. Cross-reference the results with where you landed on the political spectrum in lesson 2. Any differences? Any surprises? Any added insight? Comment briefly in an online discussion