.
Historic Events.
Historic events can have a major impact on public opinion. The Great Depression is one event that shaped the political views and opinions of a generation.
Section 1 Review.
1. Public opinion is difficult to define because.
(a) everyone shares the same views.
(b) there are many groups and issues to account for.
(c) no one is allowed to have opinions.
(d) none of the above.
2. The mass media consist of.
a) friends and family.
(b) neighbors.
c) newspapers, magazines, television, and the Internet.
(d) peer groups. .
S E C T I O N 2: Measuring Public Opinion.
What are the challenges involved in measuring public opinion?.
Why are opinion polls the best measure of public opinion?.
What are the five steps in the polling process?.
What are the challenges of evaluating polls?.
What are the limits on the impact of public opinion in a democracy?.
Measuring Public Opinion.
Elections.
Candidates who win an election are said to have a mandate, or a command from the electorate, to carry out campaign promises. In reality, however, election results are seldom an accurate measure of public opinion.
Interest Groups.
Interest groups are private organizations whose members share certain views and work to shape public policy. Interest groups are a chief means by which public opinion is made known.
The Media.
The media are frequently described as "mirrors " as well as "molders " of opinion.
Personal Contacts.
Public officials rely on frequent and wide-ranging contacts with their constituents, such as reading their mail, answering calls, and meeting people in public.
Polls "The Best Measure.
Straw Votes.
A straw vote is a method of polling that seeks to read the public's mind simply by asking the same question of a large number of people.
The straw-vote technique is highly unreliable, however.
The Polling Process.
Defining the Universe.
The universe is a term that means the whole population that the poll aims to measure. .
Constructing a Sample.
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