Transcript Public Opinion.ppt

Public Opinion
When attempting to analyze the role of public opinion in the
policy-making process, it is important to first establish a precise
definition of the concept. This is accomplished by breaking
public opinion into its components and defining first what is
meant by public and second by opinion.
Public - a collection of individuals who share a common attitude
Presidential elections
Apathetic
public
Some less visible issue
Attentive/mobilizible
public
Apathetic
public
Mobilizers
[activists]
Mobilizers
[activists]
Attentive/mobilizible
public
Types of Mobilizible Publics
•single-issue publics
•organizational publics
•ideological publics
Opinion - an opinion is an expressed attitude.
Public opinion - the shared expressed attitudes of a
collection of individuals on a matter of common concern.
“Meaningful” Ways of Expressing Attitudes
[1] voting in elections
[2] direct communication
[3] organized group activities
[4] public opinion polling
Characteristics of Public Opinion
•distribution
•intensity
•stability
•latency
•salience
What Have We Learned From Public Opinion Research?
•high levels of support for the system
•low levels of political knowledge
•low levels of political efficacy
•eroding levels of political trust