Chapter 6: Public Opinion

public opinion

Citizen's views on politics and government actions.

liberal or conservative ideology

A way of describing political beliefs in terms of a position on a spectrum or continuum.

latent opinion

formed on the spot, when it is needed (as distinct from a deeply held belief that is stable over time).

political socialization

The process by which an individual's opinions are shaped by other people and the surrounding culture.

mass survey

A way to measure public opinion by interviewing a large sample of the population.

population

The group of people who a researcher or pollster wants to study, such as evangelicals, senior citizens, or Americans.

sampling error

The predicted difference between the average opinion expressed by survey respondents and the average opinion in the population, sometime called the "margin of error."

sample

Within a population, the group of people surveyed in order to gauge the whole population's opinion.

random sample

A subsection of a population chosen to participate in a survey through a selection process in which every member of the population has an equal chance of being chosen.

ideological polarization

The effect on public opinion when many citizens move away from moderate positions and toward either end of the political spectrum, identifying themselves as either liberals or conservatives.

political trust

An individual's overall evaluation of whether government serves citizen interests.

political efficacy

An individual's belief as to whether ordinary citizens can influence policy choices made by the government.

policy mood

The level of public support for expanding the government's role in society; whether the public wants government action on a specific issue.