Opinions, Interests and Organizations Ch. 5 Public Opinion Unit 2

Public Opinion n The attitudes, perceptions, and viewpoints individuals hold about government and politics n Influenced by political culture and political socialization n Skewed by limited political education and efficacy n Shaped by government, interest groups, and mass media

Measuring Public Opinion n Public opinion polls are most reliable measurement of public opinion n Measured Qualities –Intensity of beliefs –Real wants and needs –Constant or changing opinions –Consensus or polarized over issues n Reliable? –Who conducts the poll? –What is the sample size? –Population sample? –Time of poll? –Methodology? –Sampling error? –Clarity of questions?

Development of Polls n Straw Polls –Asked same question to large number of people –Unreliable due to no cross-section of general population n George Gallup’s Ideas –Sampling F Represent general population and randomized –Valid questions F Clear, fair, unbiased, not misleading –Control of poll F Tone of question, basic knowledge of issues –Analysis F Provide sampling errors, show time and place of poll

Political Ideologies n A consistent set of political beliefs n Develop based on economic, political, and social issues n Political ideologies may change over time

Political Ideologies n Radical –Rapid fundamental changes; extreme methods such as revolution n Liberal –Supports political and social reforms; government regulations; minority support; equality n Moderate –More tolerant; shares liberal and conservative beliefs n Conservative –Support social and economic status quo; reluctant for change, and only gradual change; less government; liberty n Reactionary –Return to previous or historical system; extreme methods for accomplishment

Political Ideologies Based on Personal and Economics Issues n Pure Liberal –Economic regulation, ensure individual liberties –Tend to be young, college-educated, Jewish or secular n Pure Conservative –No economic regulation, regulate morality –Tend to be older, high incomes, white, Midwest n Libertarians –No economic regulation, ensure individual liberties –Tend to be young, college-educated, white, higher incomes, secular, West n Populists –Economic regulation, regulate morality –Tend to be older, poor education, low-income, religious, female, South/Midwest

World’s Smallest Political Quiz

n What are problems with public opinion and polls?