GENERAL INFO
What is public opinion?
Public opinion is someone's opinion on something for example something political or that benefits them.
What are some factors that influence public opinion?
A persons back ground, race, religion and place of residence
What are the three features of public opinion?
The three features of public opinion are direction, intensity, and stability.
How can public opinion affect public policy?
Public opinion affects public policy when political leaders are made aware of it and respond to the public's views.
What is the purpose of a pollster in a political campaign?
A pollster measures public opinion and monitors attitudes towards issues or the popularity of political leaders and proposals.
Why do presidents need public support?
Presidents need public support to carry out programs and to get congress to support them.
How does personal background effect public opinion on the government?
Personal background effects public opinion because for example someone wealthy and someone poor could have different opinion.
What does the "direction" of public opinion refer to?
The direction refers to whether public opinion on an issue is positive or negative, such as support or opposition.
Why are election results not always a reliable measure of public opinion?
Election results are not always reliable because people may vote for candidates for various reasons, not necessarily agreeing with all their views.
What is the difference between a random sample and a biased sample in polling?
A random sample reflects the characteristics of the entire population, while a biased sample may over-represent certain groups, distorting the results.
How can understanding public opinion help presidents?
Understanding public opinion helps presidents make affective chooses that the public want.
How can mass media effect public opinion?
The media has a major role in public opinion because it spreads news and it effects what people think of ideas and programs
What is meant by the "intensity" of public opinion?
Intensity refers to the strength of people’s opinions on an issue, particularly how strongly they feel about it.
Who was Ethel Percy Andrus, and what did she do?
Ethel Percy Andrus was an educator who founded the National Retired Teachers Association to advocate for retired teachers facing financial struggles.
What is a push poll?
A push poll is a type of poll where questions are worded to influence responses in a specific direction.
What did Franklin D Roosevelt mean when he said “I cannot go any faster than the people will let me.”?
He meant that the president can't push new ideas or policies more quickly then what the public is willing to accept
How do political officials effect public opinion
A person can effect public opinion by their actions and promises
How does stability affect public opinion?
Stability refers to how firmly people hold their views; some opinions are more stable, especially when they directly affect people's lives.
What is a public opinion poll?
A public opinion poll is a survey where individuals are asked questions to measure public opinion on various issues.
Why do some people support public opinion polling?
Some people support polling because it allows officials to stay in touch with citizens' views and make timely adjustments to policies.
Why is public opinion not uniform in a democracy?
Because different groups think and have different opinions about something.
What are interest groups, and how do they influence public opinion?
They effect public opinion by persuading people and other groups for their support
Why are opinions about political candidates less stable?
Opinions about political candidates are less stable because voters may change their minds multiple times before Election Day.
How do pollsters select people to participate in a survey?
Pollsters select people randomly from a cross-section of the population to ensure a representative sample.
What are some criticisms of public opinion polls?
Critics argue that polls can make officials focus too much on pleasing the public, influence elections, and discourage voter participation.