Public Opinion
This is the collection of attitudes and preferences held by the general public.
public opinion
These polls give a snapshot of public opinion at one moment in time.
benchmark polls
This process makes certain issues seem more important than others in the public’s mind.
priming
This term means whether the public supports, opposes, or has no opinion on an issue.
issue orientation
In the United States, the two broad ideological labels are these.
liberal and conservative
This kind of interview gathers representative people together to discuss a subject.
focus group
These polls measure how opinion changes over time.
tracking polls
This process creates the context in which the public understands an issue.
framing
This term means how strongly the public feels about an issue.
issue intensity
This ideology tends to favor more government action in the economy.
liberalism
This statistical warning reminds us that poll results may be a few points above or below the reported number.
margin of error
These polls ask voters how they voted after leaving the polling place.
exit polls
This type of bias happens when people seek out information that supports what they already believe.
confirmation bias
This term means the order of importance the public gives to political issues.
prioritization
This ideology tends to prefer less government involvement in the economy.
conservatism
This warning reminds us that two things happening together does not mean one caused the other.
correlation is not causation
These polls ask voters how they intend to vote before they enter the polling place.
entrance polls
This bias happens when people mistake vivid or familiar examples for stronger evidence than they really are.
availability bias
If the public feels strongly about a policy, elected leaders may do this to please the public.
create policies that match public opinion
This party is generally associated with liberal ideology in U.S. politics.
Democratic Party
This term describes the discomfort people feel when new information conflicts with their prior beliefs.
cognitive dissonance
Polling tries to use this kind of sample so results reflect the larger population.
representative sample
This term means a mental shortcut voters use, such as using a party label to make decisions.
heuristic
Public opinion can shape public policy, but public policy can also do this to public opinion.
shape public opinion
This party is generally associated with conservative ideology in U.S. politics.
Republican Party or GOP