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Perceived Public Opinion Vs. Actual Public Opinion And Media's Influence., Sarah Carey
Perceived Public Opinion Vs. Actual Public Opinion And Media's Influence., Sarah Carey
College of Arts & Sciences Senior Honors Theses
This paper examines the extent of polarization in the United States in the current political climate. It was predicted that individual beliefs would be less polarized than news media makes it seem because while the political parties are moving further toward the poles, there is no evidence to suggest that individuals are doing the same. Using Berkeley’s Survey Documentation and Analysis tool, data from the American National Election Studies (ANES) was analyzed to test this premise. The ANES measured individuals’ party identification. The analysis focused on those who identify as Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. The survey then asked those same …