STV2330 – Public Opinion and Political Behaviour
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 to the course
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.
Recommended previous knowledge
STV1020 - Metode og statistikk
STV1300 - Introduction to Comparative Politics
Teaching
Lectures and seminars.
Compulsory activities:
- Attend at least three of the five seminars
- Hand in and present your seminar paper
- Comment on other students' seminar 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.
Access to teaching:?
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, and does not have to in order to take the exam. A student who has previously been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
Four hour written exam.
Students must pass the compulsory activities in order to sit the exam.
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 can submit your response in English, Norwegian, Danish or Swedish
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.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.