Chapter SevenPublic Opinion

Instructor: Kevin SextonCourse: U.S. Political SystemsSoutheast 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 governmentfinds it prudent to heed.”

Sources of Public Opinion

1. Socialization2. Personal Experience3. Self-Interest4. Education5. Reference Groups6. The Media

Characteristics of Public Opinion

1.Uninformed2.Inconsistent3.Non-Ideological

Public Opinion Is:

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 LiberalismPhilosophy 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 AmericanConservatism & 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 Liberalism1. 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

Middle of the Road

LeftDemocrat

Liberal

RightRepublican

Conservative

Most Americans FallIn This Range on

The Spectrum

Ideologues Ideologues

Most Politicians FallIn 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 PollingScientifically measuring the occurrence of an eventwithin a population without measuring the wholepopulation.

Example: "Just thinking about a candidate's religion, do you think you could vote for a/an

(see next slide) candidateFor president, or not ?”

RESULTS ON NEXT SLIDE

Example of a Poll

Sample Error+/- 3%

Population versus SampleCurrent 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 random3. Measurement Error

• Confusing Questions• Leading Questions• Oversimplified Questions