Transcript JB APGOVT Unit IIB

Public Opinion and Political
Behaviors
Unit IIB
Public Opinion
Public Opinion
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The attitudes, perceptions, and viewpoints
individuals hold about government and
politics
Influenced by political culture and political
socialization
Skewed by limited political education and
efficacy
Shaped by government, interest groups, and
mass media
Measurement of Public Opinion
Development of Polls
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Straw Polls
– Asked same question to large number of people
– Unreliable due to no cross-section of general population
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George Gallup’s Ideas
– Sampling
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Represent general population and randomized
– Valid questions
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Clear, fair, unbiased, not misleading
– Control of poll
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Tone of question, basic knowledge of issues
– Analysis
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Provide sampling errors, show time and place of poll
Exit Polls
– Public opinion surveys to determine electoral winners
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Push Polls
– Misleading poll questions to push a certain choice/candidate/issue
Measuring Public Opinion
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Public opinion polls are most reliable measurement of
public opinion
Measured Qualities
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Intensity of beliefs
Real wants and needs
Constant or changing opinions
Consensus or polarized over issues
Reliable?
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Who conducts the poll?
What is the sample size? Large sample size? Small sample size?
Population sample? Randomized sample? Representative sample?
Time of poll? Relevant to current issues?
Methodology? Consistent measures?
Sampling error? Low margin of error? Within -/+ 3%?
Clarity of questions? Unbiased? Unambiguous?
Sample Poll Examples
Do you favor or oppose taxes?
 Do you favor or oppose taxes as a means to
national security?
 Do you favor or oppose Senator Smith, who
voted to raise taxes last session?
 Do you favor or oppose a state income tax of
7%?
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Political Trust
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Government is a
“necessary evil”
Major shifts in
public opinion with
major events
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Pearl Harbor
Vietnam
9/11
Hurricane Katrina
Great Recession
Confidence in Institutions
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American public
consistently
confident on military
American public
consistently
pessimistic of
Congress
Political Ideologies
A consistent set of political beliefs
 Develop based on economic, political,
and social issues
 Political ideologies may change over
time
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Political Ideologies
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Radical
– Rapid fundamental changes; extreme methods such as revolution
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Liberal
– Supports political and social reforms; government regulations; minority
support; equality
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Moderate
– More tolerant; shares liberal and conservative beliefs
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Conservative
– Support social and economic status quo; reluctant for change, and only
gradual change; less government; liberty
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Reactionary
– Return to previous or historical system; extreme methods for
accomplishment
Political Ideologies Based on
Personal and Economics Issues
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Pure Liberal
– Economic regulation, ensure individual liberties
– Tend to be young, college-educated, Jewish or secular
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Pure Conservative
– No economic regulation, regulate morality
– Tend to be older, high incomes, white, Midwest
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Libertarians
– No economic regulation, ensure individual liberties
– Tend to be young, college-educated, white, higher incomes, secular,
West
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Populists
– Economic regulation, regulate morality
– Tend to be older, poor education, low-income, religious, female,
South/Midwest
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