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Public Opinion

Public Opinion. Chapter 8.1 and 8.2. What is Public Opinion?. Public opinion – those attitudes held by a significant number of people on matters of government and politics. Public affairs – those events and issues that concern the people at large. Influences in Political Socialization.

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Public Opinion

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  1. Public Opinion Chapter 8.1 and 8.2

  2. What is Public Opinion? • Public opinion – those attitudes held by a significant number of people on matters of government and politics. • Public affairs – those events and issues that concern the people at large

  3. Influences in Political Socialization • Family – Children learn from their parents • Schools – teach American values • Mass Media -newspapers, magazines, radio, internet, and television. Americans spend a lot of time “tuned in”

  4. Influences in Political Socialization • Peer groups- the people with whom you regularly associate tend to reinforce your own beliefs • Opinion leaders – any person who has an unusually strong influence on the views of others

  5. Influences in Political Socialization • Historic events – Examples: • The Great Depression led people to think government should have a bigger role in assisting the public • Nixon’s Watergate scandal decreased the public’s trust in government • What are some examples from your lifetime?

  6. Writing Break (5 minutes) • On a piece of paper write down two issues that interests you. • Write a sentence about each one, explaining your stance on the issue. • Decide which factor – family, school, peer group, opinion leader, event, or mass media – had the most influence on that stance.

  7. Measuring Public Opinion • Elections give citizens the opportunity to express themselves at the ballot box. • A party and its victories candidates claim to have received a mandate to carry out their campaign promises. • Interest Groups – private organizations whose members share certain views and objectives and work to shape the making of the content of public policy.

  8. Measuring Public Opinion • Public opinion polls – devices that attempt to collect information by asking people questions. They were not very scientific until the 1930’s. • Straw vote - asking the same question of a large number of people. 1936 election, Franklin D. Roosevelt vs. Alfred Landon.

  9. Measuring Public Opinion • Scientific polling – 5 steps • Define the universe to be surveyed • Construct a sample • Prepare valid questions • Interviewing, select and control how the poll will be taken • Analyze and report finding to the public

  10. Polling Key Terms • Universe – the whole population the poll aims to measure • Sample – a representative slice of the total universe • Random sample – interview randomly selected people in randomly selected locations • Quota sample – constructed to reflect several of the major characteristics of a given universe

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