INQ 260: Public Opinion in VirginiaDr. Wilson
Fall 2011375-2415
Office Hours: M, T, Th. 12:00-1:00West 323
and by appt.email: wilson
COURSE OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES
At some time I am sure you have read the results of a public opinion poll and wondered how we know that xx% of Virginians approve of the job that Bob McDonnell is doing as governor or what percentage of the people thinks that taxes should be raised to balance the budget?
Why do we, or elected officials, even care what people think about the issues? How do we know if we can trust the survey results that are reported to us?
This course will provide answers to at least some of those questions, and it will give you the tools to evaluate survey results when you read them. We will exploreimportant political, economic, and social issues in Virginia by conducting a public opinion poll. While we will focus on Virginia politics, we will also examine other important issues in the Commonwealth. Surveys are used in many fields and disciplines other than politics.
The course's goals are to:
1. help you become an intelligent consumer of survey research
2. give you a basic understanding of Virginia politics and important current issues
3. provide you with actual experience in conducting a survey and analyzing and
reporting the results
4. improve your interviewing, writing and quantitative skills
5. introduce you to the methods of inquiry used in the social sciences
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the conclusion of the course, you will be able to do the following:
1. Describe and applythe core concepts used in survey research
2. Demonstrate a basic understanding of politics and important issues in Virginia
3. Be able to write an issue-related paper and a press release for a survey
4. Be able to interpret basic quantitative information related to a survey
5. Describe and apply social science methodologies appropriate
for the course’s discipline and topic.
6. Articulate how the course’s perspective (Western, Global, or
Natural World) was reflected in the course content.
7. Write about course topics clearly and effectively.
8. Interpret quantitative information related to the course topic.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
While the reading load in the course is not heavy, you are expected to read everything assigned on a particular day prior to that class meeting. You will also be required to complete a specific number of interviews for our survey. This will require some of your time, most likely in the evening and/or weekends. There will, however, be sufficient opportunities for interviewing so that no one will be required to work on a specific evening or weekend.
There will be two tests and a final exam (15% each) as well as two major writing assignments. Make-up tests are given only in extenuating circumstances and with advance notice to the instructor. In one writing assignment (5-7 pages) you will explain a specific public policy issue in Virginia, with a draft of that paper submitted and graded (draft counts for 10%; final draft for 15%). You will also write a press release (2 pages) based on our survey data (15%). Late papers are penalized 5 points for every day late beginning immediately after they are due. The remaining 15% of your grade will be based on class participation and your successful completion of your survey interviews. Class participation means participation, not just attendance.
Each student will complete 25 interviews or 12 hours during the October and/or November surveys conducted by the Institute for Policy and Opinion Research at Roanoke College. Exact dates and times are to be determined, but we anticipate calling in the first week to 10 days of each month. The calls will be done in the evenings and weekends, and students will be able to sign up for shifts that fit their schedules. Additional information will be provided in class.
Class attendance is essential to understanding the material and success in this course. You get two unexcused absences. Any skips after that will result in a one-point deduction from your average at the end of the course. This will be enforced!
TEXTS
Government and Politics in Virginia: The Old Dominion at the 21st Century, Quentin Kidd, Simon
Simon & Schuster, 1998. (On reserve in Fintel Library)
Survey Research Methods, Floyd Fowler, 4th ed., Sage, 2008.
Assigned reading (On Inquire or class handouts)
Hacker, A Writer’s Reference, RC edition (used in all INQ courses)
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The course will follow the standards of the College handbook. The use of any electronic device during a quiz or exam is strictly prohibited. This includes PalmPilots, Pocket PCs, and Blackberrys. Any use of such devices during a quiz or exam will be considered a breach of academic integrity. As stated above, it is permissible to use notes and books during exams in this course. It is not permissible to rely on the help of others in completing any assignment.
SPECIAL NEEDS
If you are on record with the College’s Special Services as having special academic or physical needs requiring accommodations, please discuss this with me as soon as possible. We need to discuss your accommodations before they can be implemented. Also, please note that arrangements for extended times on exams and testing in a semi-private setting must be made at least one week before the exams.
If you believe you are eligible for accommodations but have not yet formally contacted Special Services, contact the Center for Learning & Teaching (x2248).
Quantitative Reasoning Tutoring Support
This section of INQ 240/241/250/251/260 emphasizes quantitative reasoning (QR) as well as writing. Roughly speaking, QR can be thought of as sophisticated reasoning with elementary mathematics, and the focus is definitely on the critical thinking and interpretation that can be done with numerical information. The Goode-Pasfield Center for Learning and Teaching, in addition to subject tutoring, offers QR tutoring; hours will vary throughout the week and for more details see and select QR as your subject!
GRADING SCALE
A93 or higherC73-76.9
A-90-92.9C-70-72.9
B+87-89.9D+67-69.9
B83-86.9D63-66.9
B-80-82.9D-60-62.9
C+77-79.9F59.9 or lower
LECTURE TOPICS AND READING ASSIGNMENTS
Topics for specific dates are subject to change depending upon how quickly or slowly we move through the material.
Sept. 1 Course intro; The Current State of Virginia Politics
No reading
Sept. 6 Introduction to Surveys
Fowler, Ch. 1, 5
Sept. 8 Error, Sampling and Nonresponse
Fowler, Ch. 2-4
Sept. 15 Some Issues in Virginia
“… providing public safety in Virginia,” Dempsey and Coffey, in Kidd
“The environment as a public policy issue…,” Sussman, in Kidd
“Virginia’s foreign economic policy…,” Lansford and Lesperance, in Kidd
Assigned readings
Sept. 22 Virginia Politics
“…the transformation of party politics in VA,” Medvic, in Kidd
“…press coverage of gubernatorial campaigns,” Schack, in Kidd
“Cutting taxes: good public policy or political expediency,” Plaisance, in Kidd
Sept. 29 Interviewer training
Fowler, Ch. 8
Oct. 4 Test I
Oct. 6 Writing a press release
Class handout; Fowler, Ch. 12
Oct. 13 Designing good questions
Fowler, Ch. 6-7
Press release due (due date depends upon when we complete interviews)
Oct. 28 Writing a Policy paper
Class handout
Nov. 3 Survey Ethics and Error
Fowler, Ch. 11, 13
Nov. 10 Governing Virginia
“Virginia bureaucracy…,” Skelley, in Kidd
“Budgeting in VA…,” Whelan and Palazzolo, in Kidd
“Intergovernmental relations in VA: the Dillon rule in action,” Livengood, in Kidd
“The General Assembly,” in Banks, The Commonwealth
“The Governor,” in Banks, The Commonwealth
Nov. 17 Test 2
Nov. 22 Analyzing data
Readings on Inquire
Policy paper draft due
Dec. 6 Summary and Review
Dec. 8 Policy paperfinal draft due
Mon. Dec. 12 8:30 a.m. Final exam