This course addresses the relationship between public opinion, media and democracy from the perspective of theories and concepts and the empirical study of social orientations.

To this end, first, the various definitions and main conceptions of public opinion will be analyzed, relating them to the different forms and actors of representative democracy and its metamorphosis: from party democracy to the democracy of the public to the democracy of the public, the network and social networks. The opportunities and limitations concerning public debate (Fake news, dis/mis-information, etc.) will be analyzed in relation to the digital dimension of communication.

In addition, the course will trace the methods of analysis of public opinion, with particular attention to demoscopic surveys, of which it will delve into the degree and limits of representativeness of the samples, the problems related to the data and its measurement, as well as the way through which they are communicated and enter the public debate and the dynamics of opinion formation.

The underlying objective is to show how public opinion is not an objective and unambiguous measure provided by opinion polls but a composite and multifaceted construct, a political and social construction, in which various actors participate: political leaders, the media, intellectuals and researchers, but also pollsters and political consultants, parties, groups and civil society organizations.

The course revolves around some key themes and specific insights. In addition, some guest lectures are scheduled, online or in-person, with the participation of experts in this disciplinary area. Several Flipped Class experiences will be planned throughout the course in agreement with the students based on targeted materials made available by the lecturer. They will give short lectures to their peers in order to deepen some topics of particular relevance to the course content. 
 Another activity that structures the course is the preparation and discussion of papers produced as the work of small groups (of 3 people) to learn more about the course topics.

• The theoretical framework

1. Conceptions of public opinion: theoretical traditions and empirical forms
2. Public opinion and representative government: the metamorphosis from party democracy to “audience(s) democracy"
3.  Public opinion and post-representative politics: disintermediated(?) democracy in the age of of social media.

• The political space

4. Public space and the media
5. The role and activism of citizens
6. The dynamics of political consensus and communication
7. Opinion polls and democracy

• Public debate and representative democracy

8. The public discussion: fake news and disinformation, echo chambers and filter bubble
9. Surveys, opinions and the construction of reality
10. Public opinion, information consumption, elections and polls

No bridging courses are needed.

Knowledge and understanding. The course is aimed at transferring to the students the knowledge about the paradigms of analysis and the basis of the main approaches to the study of Public Opinion. In particular, it is intended to intertwine the diverse media with the different types of Public Opinion and of Democracy. Particular attention will be devoted to the methods of survey and “building” of Public Opinion: then, to the analysis of the media and of the polls. The course will adopt different methods of educational work in order to attain these objectives, such as: frontal lectures on basic topics, use of visual materials, as well as the analysis and the checking of the survey instruments: in particular, the polls. For this purpose, meetings and debates with scholars and professionals in this domain are planned: researchers, professors, journalists, pollsters will be involved.

Applying knowledge and understanding. Students will have to acquire the basic competences about the main perspectives and meanings of Public Opinion. Moreover, they are expected to acquire a certain degree of familiarity with the channels of Public Opinion communication and survey: the media and the polls. The course will adopt different methods of educational work in order to attain these objectives, such as: frontal lectures on basic topics, use of visual materials, in-depth seminars and experimentations with colleagues and specialists of opinion polls and with media professionals, both from Italy and from abroad.

Making judgments. Students, at the end of the course, will have to show their capacity to correlate concepts, methods, techniques concerning Public Opinion analysis. For this purpose, the students will be involved in working seminars concerning issues debated on the media and through opinion polls. To this end, surveys and analysis will be reviewed, sometimes at the presence of their authors. The aim will be that of checking but also of critically assessing categories, methods, results, interpretations.

Communication skills. Students are expected to dispose, at the end of the course, of adequate skills in the use of the scientific language and in the presentation, as well as in the discussion, of survey’s results, in the occasion of seminars. To this end, classroom-taught lessons will be held, together with seminars and group works, which will allow students to experiment and improve their communication skills on these topics.

Learning skills. Students will have to develop adequate learning competences in order to widen the skills acquired through the course, in relation to other sectors and other places in the domain of Public Opinion, not only within the university context but also in the media and in the public opinion surveys.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Online and onsite seminars with professionals and pundits as speakers and workshops.

Teaching

PowerPoint slides will be used during class. Case studies and specific opinion poll outcomes published on national and international media will be discussed. 

Innovative teaching methods

Guest lecture online, Flipped class, Paper presentation/discussion.

Attendance

Class attendance is not required. Attendance is recommended, and students who will attend for at least 75% of the class hours will be considered "attending students". 

In-person classroom lectures - 54 hours - to which an online supplementary (optional) teaching module is added, one hour per week for 9 hours.  

Course books

Materials in the English language will be defined in agreement with each student.

Assessment

Students can choose between two different exam methods:

1) oral examination. This is recommended to students who do not attend lectures or participate only occasionally.

2) Written examination at the end of the course. Available for students who regularly attend class, seminars and discussion. The date will be agreed with the students attending the lectures.

Both for the written exam and the oral one, the main evaluation criteria are:

• Students’ capacity to clearly define the main theories and concepts of the discipline;
• The degree of articulation of their answers and arguments;
• Their capacity to critically assessing the concepts and of analyzing socio-political facts and events through the theoretical instruments proposed in the course.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Studying the text books and materials as indicated below

Attendance

Class attendance is not required. Attendance is recommended, and students who will attend for at least 75% of the class hours will be considered "attending student". 

Course books

Bibliographies in English will be defined in agreement with each student.

Assessment

Face to face written examination at the end of the course according to the university calendar.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Contact professor [ luigi.ceccarini@uniurb.it ] to define the examination program in English.

For further info please visit https://www.uniurb.it/syllabi/266506