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Public Opinion. Ch 7 AP Government. Defined. Public opinion is the opinion of a significant number of people on an issue Middle America = middle class Silent majority = conservatives. Limits on Public Opinion. Many publics Many opinions Ignorance, do not know the issue
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Public Opinion Ch 7 AP Government
Defined • Public opinion is the opinion of a significant number of people on an issue • Middle America = middle class • Silent majority = conservatives
Limits on Public Opinion • Many publics • Many opinions • Ignorance, do not know the issue • Regionality (urban-rural) • Culture/class differences • Methods of measuring
Where does your opinion come from? • Family #1 • Friends • School • Religious beliefs • Economic/social status • Education • Gender
Cleavages • Differences • Why a person doesn’t fit into one group • Social class • Race/ethnicity • Region (where you live)
Polling • Straw polls—not very accurate Simple questions • Scientific polling—very accurate Small number of people needed to poll the entire nation
Scientific Polling 5 parts • Determine universe • Determine sample • Write valid questions • Conduct valid poll • Analyze/report results
Public Opinion and Ideology • Opinions are general • Ideologies narrow it down • Political Ideology • Definition– a consistent set of beliefs on issues and politics.
Political Ideology • Liberal • Conservative • Consistent stance on economic and social issues • Can be mixed
Variations of Ideology Pure Liberals S=liberal E=liberal Libertarians S=liberal E=conservative Populists S=conservative E=liberal Pure Conservatives S=Conservative E=Conservative
Elites • Do not fit into one of the 4 categories of ideology • Have a connection to government or great influence by/on it. • Affect the public agenda