This course, one of 16 sequential courses comprising phase one of a part-time Bachelor of Arts degree program in Australian Studies, introduces debate over the forms, functions, and political implications of public opinion. It pays particular attention to opinion polls and the news media and the way public opinion is produced. It is designed for independent study combined with tutorial sessions. Chapter 1 is an introduction to the course and its study objectives. Chapter 2, "Agencies of Opinion Formation," deals with opinion polling in Australia, polling and the 1936 American presidential election, and the influence of the press. Chapter 3, "Public Opinion: Definitions and Debates," discusses opinions and attitudes, both public and private, and problems with the concept of public opinion. Chapter 4, "Public Opinion and Democracy," deals with the effects of public opinion polling and the manufacture of opinion. The conclusion examines the broader implications of the material covered in the preceding chapters. Materials for the first tutorial session examine newspaper articles dealing with polling; the second deals with a television program that examines the effect of the media in shaping opinion about crime. Also included are lists of required readings, additional readings, a bibliography, and self-assessment questions. (IS)