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American Public Opinion
GOV 1360

Course Information

Description

How does public opinion shape government?  Students will learn how pollsters ask questions in order to test ideas about politics and how public opinion data are used to make political decisions.  Students will learn theories of public opinion and government accountability, fundamentals of public opinion research, and how to design and analyze surveys.  Students will work with a national survey firm to design and analyze national sample surveys, and they will learn how to write an effective memo that uses survey data to advise a candidate or president about political strategies and decisions.

Class Notes

american_subfield

School Faculty of Arts & Sciences
Credits 4
Cross Reg

Available for Harvard Cross Registration

Department Government
Course Component Lecture
Subject Government
Grading Basis FAS Letter Graded
Exam/Final Deadline Dec. 11, 2026
General Education N/A
Quantitative Reasoning with Data N/A
Divisional Distribution Social Sciences
Course Level For Undergraduate and Graduate Students