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Political Attitudes and Public Opinion. Daniel Fried Takako Kimura Tyler Richards Lenis Warren. I need to see …. Problems with relying on public opinion. Many people lack political knowledge Attitudes not “ideological” (no apparent pattern) Attitudes seem to shift from day to day - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Political Attitudes and Public Opinion
I need to see …
Daniel Fried Takako Kimura Tyler Richards Lenis Warren
Problems with relying on public opinion
Many people lack political knowledge Attitudes not “ideological” (no apparent pattern) Attitudes seem to shift from day to day Difficult to measure reliably
Measuring Public Opinion
Polling Concerns:
– Sampling issues– Measurement issues
Sampling issues
What is the relevant population? Is the sample random?
- who do we ask? (selection bias)
- who answers? (nonresponse bias) Is the sample big enough?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Number of Questions Answered Correctly
0
5
10
15
20
25
Nu
mb
er o
f S
tud
ents
4 4
13
18
12
24
16
11
6
1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Number of Questions Answered Correctly
0
5
10
15
20
25
Nu
mb
er o
f S
tud
ents
4 4
12
19
11
25
1413
7
1
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 Q8 Q9 Q10
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Nu
mb
er o
f S
tud
ents
Co
rrec
tly
An
swer
ing
80
110
53
3128
53
94
31
6460
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 Q8 Q9 Q10
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Nu
mb
er o
f S
tud
ents
An
swer
ing
Co
rrec
tly
79
109
52
29 27
52
93
30
6357
Measurement issues
A poll is only as good as the questions asked! Problems
– Confusing questions– Value-laden questions (push polling)– Over-simplified questions– Satisficing– Salience– Question order
Possible Survey Question –What’s Wrong?
Most semesters are 15 weeks long; while most quarters are 10 weeks long. However, in a quarter, we take out two days for Thanksgiving, one for Veteran’s Day, and one for Columbus Day. On the other hand, semester schools also get Labor Day off, but they start several weeks earlier in the fall and generally attend school farther into December. Plus, some semester systems take more than two days for Thanksgiving. Considering the above, which system would you prefer?
Possible Survey Question – What’s Wrong?
Since informed political participation is the lynchpin of American democracy, should PSCI 1050 be a requirement for graduation?
Possible Survey Question –What’s Wrong?
Should abortion be legal or illegal?
Possible Survey Question –What’s Wrong?
Do you think UNT faculty should or should not be allowed to opt out of the Texas Teachers’ Retirement System?
What’s a politician to do??
Don’t take polls too seriously Know your audience! Avoid “position issues” in favor of “valence
issues”
Example of a Valence Issue
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