Transcript Public Opinion - Marian High School

Public Opinion
The Basics

Public Opinion- citizens attitudes about political
issues, leaders, institutions, and events.

Values (or beliefs)- the basic principles that shape
a person’s opinions about political issues and
events.

Political ideology- a cohesive set of beliefs that
form a general philosophy about the role of
government.

Attitude (or opinion)- a specific preference on a
specific issue.
Common Values in
America

Equality of opportunity- all have the freedom to use
whatever talents and wealth they possess to reach
their full potential.

Democracy- that public officials should be chosen
by majority vote

Liberty- the freedom to express ones views
Political Socialization

Political socialization- the induction of
individuals into the political culture; the
process of learning the underlying beliefs and
values on which the political system is based.

Agents
 Family
 Social
Groups
 Education
 Political
Conditions
http://www.gallup.com/poll/14515/tee
ns-stay-true-parents-politicalperspectives.aspx
Family

Do you know what your parents’ political beliefs
are?

Did your parents ever ask for a vote on where to
go to dinner?

Did your parents tell you that everyone should be
allowed to express their opinions?

Children are more likely to adopt the political
beliefs of their parents than not.
Social Groups

Play an important role in political socialization.

Can be chosen or involuntary


Race

Gender

Occupation

Political Party
Political opinions can be rational for individuals when
considering their social groups: EX- Farmers are
overwhelmingly in favor of farming subsidies
Education

Governments use public education to try to teach
all children a common set of values.

Level of education can be an indication of
opinions and participation.

The largest difference is in the amount of political
participation. “college graduates vote, write
letters to the editor, join campaigns, take part in
protests, and generally make their voices heard.”
Political Conditions

Great or poor conditions in a country
can color the political beliefs and
identifications of citizens

Ex: Those who grew up during the Great
Depression and WWII developed a great
loyalty to Roosevelt and the Democratic
party.

Ex: Many African Americans voted
Republican due to Abraham Lincoln

How has 9/11 impacted political
participation and opinion?
Realigning Election

Realigning Election- where a segment of
the population align themselves with a
different party in an election.

Only one true example- FDR’s first election
in 1932 when many people left the
Republican party because of the Great
Depression and aligned themselves with
the Democrats
Political Knowledge
•
25% of Americans polled could name their two
senators
•
Political ignorance is a fact of political life given
the high cost of political attentiveness.

Reading, thinking, participation, social friction, and
pessimism can all be costs of political knowledge
 You
can always be a free rider
 An
individual who does not to join a group
representing his or her interests yet receives
the benefit of the group’s influence.
 None
of the work. All of the problems.
Shortcuts

The trusted other, believe what someone
you usually agree with believes (the
opposite is also true)

Party affiliation or ideology
Why that isn’t so good in a
Democracy

Issues are often too complex to lend themselves to
simple ideological interpretation.

Shortcut takers can become victims in political
struggles because they cannot effectively defend their
political interests

Large numbers of politically inattentive people means
that the political process can be more easily
manipulated by the forces that seek to shape public
opinion.
How polarized is public
opinion?
State results,
by land area
County
results, by
land area
State results,
by population
County
results, by
population
Measuring Public Opinion
(Basics)

Public Opinion Polls- the scientific instruments for
measuring public opinion

Sample- a small group selected by researchers to
represent the most important characteristics of an
entire population
Measuring Public Opinion
(Types)

Probability sampling- a method used by pollsters to
select a representative sample in which every
individual in the population has an equal probability
of being selected as a respondent

Random digit dialing- a poll in which respondents are
selected at random from a list of ten digit telephone
numbers, with every effort made to avoid bias in the
construction of the sample
Measuring Public Opinion
(Errors)

Selection bias- a polling error in which the sample is not
representative of the population being studied, so that
some opinions are over- or underrepresented.

Sampling error- a polling error that arises on account of
the small size of the sample

Measurement error- the failure to identify the true distribution
of opinion within a population because of errors such as
ambiguous or poorly worded questions

Push Polling- A polling technique in which the questions are
designed to shape a respondent’s opinion
Measuring Public Opinion
(Effects)

Illusion of Salience- The impression conveyed by
polls that something is important to the public
when it actually is not.

Bandwagon effect- a shift in electoral support to
the candidate whom public opinion polls report
as the front runner.

Rally round the flag effect- a shift in electoral
support to the status quo during a time of war or
crisis.
How does this influence
policy?

Individual doorstep opinions vs. aggregate
public opinion

Between 1935 and 1979 about 2/3 of all cases
significant changes in public opinion were
followed within one year by policy changes

Why doesn’t policy always follow opinion

The majority may not be intensely committed as the
minority

Structure of the government creates a lag time (ex:
supreme court rulings)

Party leadership may be slow, or unwilling to react
Shaping Opinion

Government

Presidents and the Executive branch use polls,
focus groups, planted news stories, and film to
try to persuade the public with propaganda.
Shaping Opinion
 Interest
Groups
 Special
interests groups may try to shape
opinion because of values or personal
interest.
Shaping Opinion

The Media
 Can
 Do
be outlets for the other two
the scandals that the media uncovers
impact your view of politicians and politics?
Ex: Bridgegate