The term public opinion means the feeling or sentiment shared by most people, the voice of the people. This definition may be simple, but it is often difficult to determine what the public's opinion is on any given issue and how to interpret its meaning. This two-volume encyclopedia defines and discusses the history and development of public opinion as a concept in democracy, major public opinion controversies in American politics, and the science and methods of opinion polling. Over 170 signed entries explain the major concepts, people, historical events, organizations, practice and theory, and measurement methods of public opinion and political opinion polling in the United States.
Entries include: Noam Chomsky, exit polls, gender differences, liberalism and conservatism, National Election Studies, polling and voting, random digit dialing, and survey ethics. Ready reference materials include statistics and charts and a listing of major public opinion research centers, organizations and archives. Excellent for researchers and students in political science and civics courses.

Polling America [2 volumes]: An Encyclopedia of Public Opinion [2 volumes]

Reference

Radcliff, Benjamin

Best, Samuel J.

Encyclopedias & Subject Guides

Greenwood

Written for those who have not heard the sound of one hand clapping. The authors provide a radical departure from traditional studies, presenting Zen clearly and concisely Echoing the true spirit of Zen, they claim that enlightenment is something that is in reach of everyone and that practice of Zen can be realized by the individual without dependence upon a Master, a guru, or a particular method.

Understanding Zen (Tuttle Library of Enlightenment)

Religion & Spirituality

Radcliff, Amy

Buddhism

Tuttle+publishing

The Political Economy of Human Happiness: How Voters' Choices Determine the Quality of Life

This book is devoted to applying the data, methods, and theories of contemporary social science to the question of how political outcomes in democratic societies determine the quality of life that citizens experience. Benjamin Radcliff seeks to provide an objective answer to the perennial debate between Left and Right over what public policies best contribute to human beings leading positive and rewarding lives. The book thus offers an empirical answer to this perpetual question, relying on the same canons of reason and evidence required of any other issue amenable to study through social-scientific means. The analysis focuses on the consequences of three specific political issues: the welfare state and the general size of government, labor organization, and state efforts to protect workers and consumers through economic regulation. The results indicate that in each instance, the program of the Left best contributes to citizens leading more satisfying lives, and, critically, that the benefits of greater happiness accrue to everyone in society, rich and poor alike.

Business & Money

Economics

Cambridge University Press

"In this valuable study, an economist and political scientist combine to produce a succinct survey and synthesis of the multidisciplinary literature on happiness and assess its implications for how to improve personal and societal well-being." — Richard Easterlin, University Professor Emeritus USC and creator of the Easterlin paradox "This concise and bracing little book does exactly what it says. It plunges readers into the recent science, economics, and politics of happiness, and will leave them feeling clarified and refreshed.” — Darrin M. McMahon, Professor of History at Dartmouth College "This essential book moves beyond the 'happy talk' that marks the tidal wave of self-help books on happiness. Instead Radcliff and Dutt provide an accessible, engaging, and thoroughly multidisciplinary roadmap to the vast scholarly literature on the field of 'happiness science.’ There is every reason to expect that the book will be a key reference for scholars and students entering this burgeoning area of research." — George DeMartino, professor of international economics at the University of Denver This book provides a short immersion to the subject of happiness by examining the scholarly literature on it. Among the questions it explores are: What is the meaning of happiness? Is it something that it is possible to understand in general terms, perhaps by distinguishing between different meanings of it, or is it something that is best left to people to define for themselves as they seek to be happy in their own way? Can happiness and its different meanings be measured and, if so, how? On what does happiness depend? Does a person’s happiness depend on his or her disposition and individual circumstances, or does it depend in part on how society is organized and on what the government does? Does money buy happiness? What kinds of political, economic, social and environmental factors make people and societies happier? What can people do, either individually or collectively, to become happier?

Happiness: A Quick Immersion (Quick Immersions)

Politics & Social Sciences

Amitava Krishna, Dutt

Social Sciences

Tibidabo Publishing, Inc.

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