Chapter Seven
Public Opinion
Instructor: Kevin Sexton
Course: U.S. Political Systems
Southeast Missouri State University
What is Public Opinion?
The aggregation of people’s views about issues, situations,
and public figures.
and….or…..
“those opinions held by private persons which government
finds it prudent to heed.”
Sources of Public Opinion
1. Socialization
2. Personal Experience
3. Self-Interest
4. Education
5. Reference Groups
6. The Media
Characteristics of Public Opinion
Public Opinion Is:
1.Uninformed
2.Inconsistent
3.Non-Ideological
Ideology versus Ideologue
Ideology – a comprehensive, organized set
of beliefs, values and set of views about
government and politics.
Ideologue – an impractical idealist, an often
blindly partisan advocate or follower of a
particular ideology.
Classic Liberalism
Philosophy that attempted to free individuals from the societal structure that
was dominated by religious and hereditary privileges.
1. It placed a great deal of emphasis on empowering the individual.
ie. Hobbes and Locke’s ideas relating to the relationship between the government and the governed.
2. Government should be involved in the life of individual citizens as little as
possible.
Modern American Liberalism and Modern American Conservatism are both outgrowths of
Classic Liberalism. They both believe that government should stay out of certain portions of
our lives. The difference is found when we look at what portion of our lives each group would
like to protect from government involvement.
Modern Day American
Conservatism & Liberalism
Modern Day Conservatism
1. Believe government should not be deeply involved in the economic decisions.
ie. Believe deeply in the free-market or supply and demand economics.
2.
Believe government should be involved in clarifying societal positions on moral
issues.
ie. Abortion, Stem Cell Research, Right to Die, Homosexual Marriage
3. Republicans would be considered an example of a modern day conservative group.
Modern Day Liberalism
1.
Believe government should not be deeply involved in societal moral issues. We should each
be allowed to develop our own moral boundaries.
2.
Believe government should be involved in economic decisions, in order to ensure a more
equitable distribution of wealth is achieved.
ie. Adheres more to Keynesian Economic Principles.
3.
Democrats would be considered an example of a modern day liberal group.
US Political Spectrum
Moderate
Ideologues
Left
Democrat
Middle of the
Road
Most Politicians Fall
In This Range on
The Spectrum
Liberal
Ideologues
Right
Republican
Conservative
Most Americans Fall
In This Range on
The Spectrum
Ideology versus Ideologue (cont.)
Things to remember:
• ALL Americans have an ideology.
• NOT ALL Americans are ideologues.
• Most Politicians are not ideologues
– Because ideologues are considered more “extreme” and
since most voters are not found at the extremes of the
US Political Spectrum it is not profitable for politicians to
be at the extremes.
How is Public Opinion Measured
Polls or Polling
Scientifically measuring the occurrence of an event
within a population without measuring the whole
population.
Example:
"Just thinking about a candidate's religion,
do you think you could vote for a/an
(see next slide) candidate
For president, or not ?”
RESULTS ON NEXT SLIDE
Example of a Poll
Sample Error
+/- 3%
Population versus Sample
Current US Population is 299,150,168.
Do pollsters ask each person the poll questions?
NO.
They select a random sample of the total
POPULATION.
Then……
Mathematically apply the findings of the sample to
the total population.
Are Polls 100% Accurate?
No. Errors can and do happen with polls.
Things that can cause problems with polls:
1. Sample Error
•
•
Error inherent to measuring only a sample
+/- of a poll
2. Selection Bias
•
Size of Sample Not Representative
• Not truly random
3. Measurement Error
•
•
•
Confusing Questions
Leading Questions
Oversimplified Questions