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PUBLIC OPINION In the U.S.

WHAT IS PUBLIC OPINION?

SHARED EVALUATIONS EXPRESSED BY PEOPLE ON POLITICAL ISSUES, POLICIES AND INDIVIDUALS.

BY EXAMINING A CASE STUDY IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT:

-INTENSITY (THE STRENGTH OF THE OPINION)

-SALIENCY (RELEVANCY)

-STABILITY-CHANGES

-DIRECTION (FAVOR-AGAINST)

WHAT IS PUBLIC OPINION?

YET,

AT TIMES, PUBLIC OPINION IS DIFFICULT TO DEFINE. IT CAN BE FUZZY AND UNSTABLE, OFTEN UNINFORMED AND SOMETIMES COMPLETELY ABSENT ON A GIVEN ISSUE.

HOW CAN WE MEASURE PUBLIC OPINION? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

HOW CAN WE MEASURE PUBLIC OPINION? MAINLY THROUGH POLLS,

BUT NOT ALL POLLS ARE EQUAL...ONLY THE “SCIENTIFIC” ONES.

CHARACTERISTICS OF “SCIENTIFIC” POLLS -INDIVIDUALS ARE SELECTED BY RANDOM

-QUESTIONS’ WORDING SHOULD NOT SWAY THE RESPONDENT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

-QUESTIONS SHOULD DISTINGUISH BETWEEN INFORMED AND UNINFORMED RESPONSES.

“NON-SCIENTIFIC POLLS”

-DO NOT SELECT INDIVIDUALS AT RANDOM (THUS THEY ONLY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE INTERVIEWEES).

-MAY HAVE POORLY WORDED QUESTIONS.

-QUESTIONS LEAD INDIVIDUALS TO RESPOND IN CERTAIN MANNER.

THE RESULTS OF POLLS MAY VARY. THEY ARE OFTEN INFLUENCED BY AGE, GENDER, ETHNICITY, INCOME, EDUCATION, AND OTHER FACTORS.

FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION...

http://www.people-press.org/quiz/political-party-quiz/