- "Public opinion, or popular opinion, is the collective opinion on a specific topic or voting intention relevant to society."
The study of how opinions and attitudes are measured, and how this information is used to shape public policy.
Sampling Methods: Sampling is the process of selecting a representative group of people from a larger population for survey research. Various sampling methods like probability and non-probability sampling are used to collect the data.
Survey Design: It is the process of creating a series of questions for gathering data from the participants. Survey design should be structured, clear, unbiased, and researchable to elicit genuine responses from the participants.
Questionnaire Construction: The creation of questions used in surveys depends on the type of research question to be answered. The right question structure, phrasing, response options, and format should be chosen based on the desired outcome.
Response Bias: Response bias occurs when participants produce a response that does not reflect their true beliefs, attitudes or feelings. Knowing this phenomenon helps to create non-biased questionnaires.
Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods: Public opinions and survey research includes both qualitative and quantitative methods to measure public attitudes, opinions, and behaviors.
Public Opinion Polls: Public opinion polls are conducted to assess the attitudes of the general public on various political issues, social and economic problems, and a broad range of other matters.
Accessibility of Survey Data: Accessibility of survey data involves factors such as the use of technology, demographics, knowledge levels, comfort level with technology or the medium, and survey resources.
Survey Data Analysis: Survey data analysis is a process that includes gathering raw data, converting it into a suitable format, cleaning the data, and tabulating and summarizing the data. Analysis involves mainly statistical procedures such as descriptive and inferential statistics.
Margin of Error: Margin of error measures the credibility of the samples selected for public opinion surveys.
Cognitive Processes and Attitudes: This topic explains how people process information and form their attitudes through perception, memory, and interpretation. It also explores how public attitudes are formed and influenced.
Political Socialization: Political socialization is the process through which individuals gain their knowledge, skills, and values related to politics, either implicitly or explicitly, throughout their life cycle.
Agenda-Setting Theory: The agenda-setting theory is the study of how news and media coverage can influence the public’s perceptions and issues that they think are essential.
Opinion Leaders: Opinion leaders are individuals who are influential in their social circles and who have significant impact on attitudes and decision-making.
Social Desirability Bias: Social desirability bias occurs when respondents in surveys give answers that are socially acceptable and align with public opinion.
Survey Ethics: Survey ethics deal with issues like ensuring the confidentiality of the data, obtaining informed consent, avoiding harm to participants, and ensuring the reviews are conducted with integrity.
Random Sampling Surveys: In this type of research, a random sample of the target population is collected and asked a set of standardized questions to get their opinion on the issue in question.
Exit Polls: Exit polls are conducted on Election Day at polling locations to gauge how people are voting and why they voted that way.
Focus Groups: Focus groups are a type of qualitative research that is conducted to gain an in-depth understanding of public opinion on certain issues. A group of individuals is brought together to discuss a topic. The moderator asks questions and participants share their opinions.
Online Surveys: Instead of knocking on doors or calling people on the phone, survey researchers can now conduct surveys on the internet. Online surveys are more convenient for respondents and easier for researchers to collect data.
Deliberative Polling: In this type of research, a group of individuals is brought together to discuss a topic in a deliberate manner. They are given information about an issue and then asked to consider different viewpoints. The goal is to create a more informed public.
Tracking Polls: Tracking polls are conducted over time to track changes in public opinion. It is particularly useful during election season to understand how the voters' opinions are changing.
Mail Surveys: This is an older method of survey research where people were asked to complete and return a survey by mail. This is now less common due to the rise of online surveys.
Phone Surveys: Phone surveys are conducted over the phone, and it’s usually the most cost-effective method of conducting surveys, but it can be inefficient in reaching younger demographics who tend to rely on their cell phones.
Mail-Online Hybrid Surveys: This combines the traditional mail survey with an online survey, which allows respondents to complete the survey online or through the mail.
Omnibus Surveys: These surveys are conducted regularly and are designed to provide answers to questions that are submitted by multiple clients.
Panel Studies: Panel studies are conducted with the same group of respondents over an extended period of time. This helps researchers understand how opinions change over time.
Quota Sampling: Quota sampling is when a specific number of people are chosen for the survey based on certain characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity, etc.
- "The term originates from France and first appeared in the 17th century."
- "Writers had identified the importance of the opinion of the people long before this."
- "Public fora such as coffee houses and gentlemen's clubs were used as exchanges of opinion."
- "Some reputable locations had great influence."
- "In the 21st century, public opinion is widely thought to be heavily influenced by the media."
- "Many studies have been undertaken which look at the different factors which influence public opinion."
- "Politicians and other people concerned with public opinion often attempt to influence it using advertising or rhetoric."
- "One of the struggles of public opinion is how it can be influenced by misinformation."
- "Public opinion, or popular opinion..."
- "The term originates from France and first appeared..."
- "Public fora such as coffee houses and gentlemen's clubs were used..."
- "Some reputable locations had great influence."
- "Public opinion is widely thought to be heavily influenced by the media."
- "Many studies have been undertaken which look at the different factors which influence public opinion."
- "Politicians and other people concerned with public opinion often attempt to influence it using advertising or rhetoric."
- "One of the struggles of public opinion is how it can be influenced by misinformation."
- "Public opinion, or popular opinion, is the collective opinion..."
- "The term originates from France and first appeared in the 17th century..."
- "Public fora such as coffee houses and gentlemen's clubs were used..."