Though Some Fundamental Values Remain Relatively Unchanged Over the Course

question 59

Essay

Though some fundamental values remain relatively unchanged over the course of one's life, some opinions about political issues are less stable.What causes people's opinions to change over time? In your answer, discuss John Zaller's three-stage model of opinion formation and the "online processing model" of opinion change.In addition, identify a contemporary political controversy where the American public's opinions have changed and explain why the change occurred.

---

Definitions:

Positive Statement

An objective statement that can be tested and validated by referring to the available evidence, often used in economics to describe what is happening.

Normative Statement

An opinion or assertion about how the world ought to be, often reflecting values or judgments that cannot be tested or proven true or false.

Production Possibilities Frontier

A graph that shows the various combinations of output that an economy can possibly produce, given the available factors of production and the available production technology.

Trade-Off

A choice made in a given situation where one aspect of a set or design is reduced or forfeited to improve other elements.