Democracy is widely viewed as an important ideal. In theory it should ensure that governments are responsive to the needs and desires of their citizens and...

Voters, Public Opinion and Participation (PUBL0082)

Democracy is widely viewed as an important ideal. In theory it should ensure that governments are responsive to the needs and desires of their citizens and that they are held accountable for their actions in office. On the other hand, as Winston Churchill is once alleged to have said, “the best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.” Citizens are often depicted as apathetic, uninformed, inattentive, and easily led astray by demagogues and ‘fake news.’ In this course, we’ll find out whether they are really capable of fulfilling the duties that democracy requires of them, and if not, whether it matters and what we can do about it.

We will examine how people think about political issues, how they come to form those views, and how voters make their decisions at elections. Some specific questions we will try to answer might include: why are some people left-wing and others right-wing? Do citizens hold coherent opinions, and if not, does it matter? How does mass opinion change occur? Does the media affect people’s opinions? Why do some citizens support policies that seem to damage their own interests? How do voters form long-term attachments to parties, and do those attachments change over time? Is social class still relevant in explaining how people vote? When they vote, do voters hold politicians accountable for their performance in office? Do policies matter for people’s vote choices?

This 2 hour exam requires candidates to write short answers on 8 out of 12 topics, which will reflect the teaching on the Research Methods sub-unit.

Research Methods in Clinical Psychology (PSYC0185)

Do animals have language? This interdisciplinary module surveys what is currently known about the communication systems of other species. The module aims are...