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Death Penalty Opinions: A Classroom Experience and Public Commitment
Author(s) -
Bohm Robert M.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
sociological inquiry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.446
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1475-682X
pISSN - 0038-0245
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-682x.1990.tb00146.x
Subject(s) - public opinion , social psychology , order (exchange) , sociology , public relations , psychology , criminology , law , political science , business , politics , finance
This study attempts to identify stimuli that produce changes in death penalty opinions and to determine whether public commitment to a death penalty opinion has an effect on that opinion. Consistent with previously reported findings, the results of this study suggest that public commitment has a substantial inhibitory effect on opinion change. Reasons for both changing and maintaining death penalty opinions are provided, and the implications of the research are discussed.