GENERAL INFO
What is public opinion?
Public opinion is the ideas and attitudes most people hold about issues or people.
Name one source of public opinion.
Personal background, mass media, public officials, interest groups.
Name one feature of public opinion.
Direction, intensity, and stability.
What is a public opinion poll?
A survey asking people their opinions on issues or candidates.
Why do people support polls?
Polls help officials stay in touch with public views.
How does public opinion affect presidents?
Presidents need public support to carry out programs and gain congressional backing.
How do personal backgrounds influence opinions?
Age, gender, income, race, religion, and place of residence all shape opinions.
What does direction mean in public opinion?
Direction is whether an opinion is positive or negative.
What does a pollster do?
A person who measures public opinion through polls.
How do poll results affect elections?
Polls can affect how people vote and whether they choose to vote.
What does diversity in public opinion mean?
Diversity means Americans often have different views and don't always agree on issues.
What role does mass media play in public opinion?
Mass media spreads information and shapes how people view issues.
What does intensity mean in public opinion?
Intensity is how strongly people feel about an issue.
Why are random samples important in polls?
Random samples help get a mix of people to reflect the whole population.
How can question wording affect poll results?
Wording can change how people understand and answer questions.
How can public opinion help presidents make decisions?
It helps presidents know when the public is ready for new ideas and make better decisions.
How do public officials shape opinion?
Public officials express views to influence people and gain support.
What is stability in public opinion?
Stability is how constant an opinion stays over time.
What are push polls?
Polls that try to sway opinions instead of measure them.
How do leaders use polls to guide policy?
They use poll results to adjust policies and respond to people’s needs.
What makes public opinion powerful in a democracy?
Enough people holding a strong opinion can influence government actions.
What are interest groups and what do they do?
They try to influence officials and government policies to match their interests.
Give an example of a strong opinion leading to action.
Voting, working in campaigns, or joining protests show strong opinions in action.
What are problems with polling?
Some worry polling affects leadership and makes officials too focused on being popular.
What makes a poll reliable or fair?
A good poll uses fair questions and represents all types of people.