Public opinion about crime and criminal justice

This undergraduate seminar is composed of three sections. In the first section, students learn the fundamental theories of public opinion. Readings are selected from the fields of political science, psychology, and communication studies. Students are expected to think critically about questions such as if we can trust public opinion, and the relationship between public opinion and public policy. In the second section, students learn the basics of survey methodology , including sampling, modes of survey, and survey question design. As more researchers implement surveys online, I also teach students how to design a web survey. In the third section, students learn public opinion about crime and criminal justice. Topics include fear of crime, confidence in the criminal justice system, punitiveness, and attitudes towards sex crime and juvenile justice. To learn more about the course, check out the syllabus here.