Web Research Activities

1. Brainstorm three major social issues and three major political issues. Search the Internet for public opinion poll results that examine racial and ethnic differences in opinion on these issues. Examine articles that provide suggestions as to why there are or are not differences in opinion by race and ethnicity, and consider whether you agree with the explanations.

2. Examine the specifics of the Bradley and Wilder elections that led to the understanding of the Bradley/Wilder effect. Then, search for data regarding public opinion and support for Barack Obama’s 2008 and 2012 presidential bids. Determine the degree to which this effect was present and consider why you do or do not find evidence of it.

3. Find three different polling sources that ask about the same topic for the same time period (e.g., presidential approval ratings). Are the results the same across the polls? If there are differences, why is this the case?

4. Examine whether and the degree to which public opinion concerning ideas supporting white supremacy has shifted in the United States between 2006 and 2018. Consider what might account for any changes.

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