Public Opinion

Ch 7 AP Government

Defined

Public opinion is the opinion of a significant number of people on an issue

Middle America = middle class Silent majority =

conservatives

Limits on Public Opinion

Many publics Many opinions Ignorance, do not know the issue Regionality (urban-rural) Culture/class differences Methods of measuring

Where does your opinion come from? Family #1 Friends School Religious beliefs Economic/social status Education Gender

Cleavages

Differences Why a person doesn’t fit into

one group

Social class Race/ethnicity Region (where you live)

Polling

Straw polls—not very accurateSimple questions

Scientific polling—very accurateSmall number of people needed to

poll the entire nation

Scientific Polling

5 parts1. Determine universe2. Determine sample3. Write valid questions4. Conduct valid poll5. Analyze/report results

Public Opinion and Ideology

Opinions are general Ideologies narrow it down

Political Ideology Definition– a consistent set

of beliefs on issues and politics.

Political Ideology

Liberal Conservative Consistent stance on

economic and social issues

Can be mixed

Variations of Ideology

Pure LiberalsPure Liberals S=liberal E=liberal

LibertariansLibertarians S=liberal E=conservative

PopulistsPopulists S=conservative E=liberal

Pure ConservativesPure Conservatives S=Conservative E=Conservative

Elites Do not fit into one of the 4

categories of ideology

Have a connection to government or great influence by/on it.

Affect the public agenda