STV2330 – Public Opinion and Political Behaviour
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
What determines the political attitudes and values of modern citizens? Why do they support some parties rather than others in elections? Why do they vote at all – and why don’t they? Have satisfaction with democracy and political trust declined in recent decades? These are core questions in the study of political behaviour. In this course, you will learn about the political behaviour of citizens in Western democracies.
The course is organised around three major themes: values, voting, and trust. The first theme concerns citizens’ belief systems, notably their political attitudes and values: how are these structured, what explains them, how are they changing? The second theme concerns electoral behaviour: why do people vote (or not) at all, and if they do, how do they choose among the parties? Finally, the course covers generalized “political trust” in democratic institutions and processes. Is political trust on the decline, and if so where and why? What are the broader consequences of political trust for politics and society?
In all three parts, we emphasize the interplay between citizens and political parties: how do these affect and react to each other? In each part, moreover, the course considers a variety of explanatory factors, including deep-seated explanations connected to social background (e.g. class, education, gender) as well as more short-term explanations (e.g. election campaigns, fluctuating economic interests, and the performance of the incumbent government).
Learning outcome
Knowledge
You will:
- be familiar with key questions, concepts and theories in the field of political behaviour.
- be familiar with systematic research results with relevance for key concepts and theories.
- know specific cases and examples with relevance for concepts and theories.
- understand what results and examples reveal about the viability of concepts and theories.
Skills
You will:
- be able to apply theoretical perspectives in original analyses of specific cases, contemporary events, and developments.
- be able to develop testable hypotheses and implications from theory.
- critically assess theoretical arguments and empirical tests of these arguments.
Competence
You will:
- improve your systematic and critical thinking.
- gain experience in writing academic texts.
- synthesize, evaluate, and apply vast swathes of information.
- engage in academic dialogue and mutual feedback.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
This course is not available for single course students.
Overlapping courses
10 credits overlap with STV2340 – Holdninger, verdier og politisk atferd (continued)
Teaching
Lectures and seminars
Compulsory activities:
- Attend the first seminar
- Write and present your term paper
- Comment on other students papers
The seminars are taught in English, and the papers handed in must be written in English.
See the seminar guidelines for more information about the seminars.
See the rules for reassignment of seminar groups and the guidelines for compulsory activities.
Absence from compulsory activities
If you are ill or have another valid reason for being absent from compulsory activities, your absence may be approved or the compulsory activity may be postponed.
Examination
3 hours written exam.
Term paper.
Students must pass the compulsory activities in order to sit the exam.
The term paper must
- have a maximum word limit of 2500 - 3500 words.
- meet the formal requirements for submission of the course paper.
One overall grade is given, and both parts of the exam must be completed the same semester.
Submit assignments in Inspera
You submit your assignment in the digital examination system Inspera. Read about how to submit your assignment.
Use of sources and citation
You should familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to the use of sources and citations. If you violate the rules, you may be suspected of cheating/attempted cheating.
Examination support material
Students may use dictionaries at this exam. Dictionaries must be handed in before the examination. Please read regulations for dictionaries permitted at the examination.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.