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Information, Values, and Opinion

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  • Zaller, John

Abstract

Past research has modeled mass opinion change as a two-step process involving reception of political communication and acceptance or rejection of that communication. I propose a two-message version of the reception-acceptance model, in which citizens are exposed to two opposing communication flows, either or both of which may affect their opinions. Variation over time in the relative intensity of the opposing communications, along with citizen differences in attention to politics and in political values, interact in the model to explain both cross-sectional patterns of mass opinion and opinion change across surveys. The model, which is applied to data on the Vietnam War, illuminates two research problems: how complex information flows diffuse through a mass audience and how this information shapes mass belief systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Zaller, John, 1991. "Information, Values, and Opinion," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 85(4), pages 1215-1237, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:apsrev:v:85:y:1991:i:04:p:1215-1237_18
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    Cited by:

    1. Hasan DanaeeFard & Tayebeh Abbasi, 2021. "Why and How Does Policy Change over Time: a Narrative Explanation from Iran," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 355-376, June.
    2. Tevfik Murat Yildirim, 2022. "Stability and change in the public’s policy agenda: a punctuated equilibrium approach," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 55(2), pages 337-350, June.
    3. Richard M. Coughlin & Charles Lockhart, 1998. "Grid-Group Theory and Political Ideology," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 10(1), pages 33-58, January.
    4. Denise L. Anthony & Douglas D. Heckathorn & Steven M. Maser, 1994. "Rational Rhetoric in Politics," Rationality and Society, , vol. 6(4), pages 489-518, October.
    5. Delshad, Ashlie B. & Raymond, Leigh & Sawicki, Vanessa & Wegener, Duane T., 2010. "Public attitudes toward political and technological options for biofuels," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(7), pages 3414-3425, July.
    6. Kaminski, Jonathan, 2008. "Wealth, Living Standards and Perceptions in a Cotton Economy: Evidence from the Cotton Reform in Burkina Faso," Discussion Papers 45780, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Department of Agricultural Economics and Management.
    7. Patrick Sturgis & Patten Smith, 2010. "Fictitious Issues Revisited: Political Interest, Knowledge and the Generation of Nonattitudes," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 58(1), pages 66-84, February.
    8. Rodolfo Apreda, 2012. "A clinical approach to the governance of conflict-systems," CEMA Working Papers: Serie Documentos de Trabajo. 491, Universidad del CEMA.

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