PUBLIC OPINION

I. Characteristics of Public Opinion

  1. Attitudes toward a given public policy can vary over time, often dramatically.

  2. Public Opinion places boundaries on allowable types of public policy.

  3. If asked by pollsters, citizens are willing to express opinions on matters outside their expertise.

  4. Government tends to respond to public opinion.

  5. Government sometimes does not do what the people want.

    6. II. Measuring Public Opinion: Sample Size and Shape of the Sample Distribution

    Table 1

    Sample Size for a Simple Random Sample

     
     Tolerated Error    		 Confidence Limits

    95 Samples

    in 100

    99 Samples 

    in 100 

    1% 9,604 16,587
    2% 2,401 4,147
    3% 1,067 1,843
    4% 600 1,037
    5% 384 663
    6% 267 461
    7% 196 339


    Table 2
    Shape of the Distribution


    III. Stability of the Distribution: Shows little change over time.

    1. Preference for capitalism

    2. Self Identification of Ideology

    3. Change in Public Opinion Reflects Generational Changes



    IV. Political Knowledge of Americans

    1. General Knowledge About Government


    2. Knowledge About Public Policy


    3. Political Knowledge & Political Participation