Two Broad, Basic Information Processing Models in
Political Science
Memory Based Model (Zaller)
* Receive, Accept, Sample (RAS) model
* Considerations are processed and stored in memory
* These considerations are called "to the top of the head" for
response
* More accessible considerations carry more weight in response
Online Model (Lodge et al)
* Opinions are formed and updated "on the fly"
* When new information about an object is encountered, the
opinion is updated and stored in memory
* Updated opinion is retained, not necessarily the information that
shaped it.