GENERAL INFO
What is public opinion?
Public opinion is what most people think about an issue
Where does public opinion come from ?
Public opinion comes from a person's background, the mass media, public officials, and interest groups
What are three features of public opinion ?
Direction, intensity, and stability
How can election results show public opinion?
If candidate wins, it show many voters agree with their ideas
What is one concern about how polls affect elections?
Polls may treat elections like a game, focusing on who is winning instead of important issues
How does public opinion influence presidents?
It helps shape their decisions and gain support for their programs
How does personal background affects public opinion?
Age, gender, income , race, religion, occupation
What does " stability " mean in public opinion?
It means how firmly people hold to their views and how likely the are to change them.
What is a public opinion poll ?
It's a survey where people answer questions to show what they think about issues
How can polls discourage voting ?
If one candidate is far ahead in the polls, some people may feel their vote doesn't matter and not vote
Why is public opinion important to presidents?
It helps them know when the public is ready for new ideas
What do they call radio, newspaper, magazines , and etc. Mass media ?
Because they communicate broadly to masses of people
Give me an example of stable public opinion ?
Most people's views on civil rights are more stable than their views on political candidates
What is a random sample ?
A group of people chosen fairly from different backgrounds to reflect the whole population
Why does some people support public opinion polls?
Polls helps officials stay updated on what citizens think and make decisions without waiting for elections
What did Franklin D. Roosevelt say about public opinion ?
He said he couldn't go faster than the people would let him
How do public officials influences public opinion?
When officials speak out, they try to shape public opinion and gain support for their positions
Why is public opinion of interest to government officials
Because it helps them know what the public wants and how to earn their support
Why most pollsters by careful with question wording ?
Because wording can affect answers and change the results of the poll
Why do critics say polls treat election like horse race?
Because they focus on who is winning or losing rather than on the candidates views on important issues
Is public opinion always the same?
No, people often have different views on issues
What does " direction " of public opinion means ?
It means whether people feel positively or negatively about an issue, like taxes or defense spreading
What does "intensity" mean in public opinion?
Intensity shows how strongly people feel about an issue
Why do some people criticize public opinion polls?
They believe polls make leaders focus more on pleasing people than on making wise decisions
Besides public opinion, what other factors influence public policy?
Interest groups, political parties, the mass media, government institutions, and individuals