public opinion
Let an agent explain public opinion and how it is measured, relay polling methods and their limits, present findings and theories with attribution, and route interpretation of specific polls to their sources and methodology.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain public opinion and how it is measured, relay polling methods and their limits, present findings and theories with attribution, and route interpretation of specific polls to their sources and methodology.
The collective attitudes, beliefs and preferences of a population or public on issues of common concern, as expressed through surveys, voting, media and public debate; public opinion is measured by polling, shaped by media, events and elites, and is a central concept in democratic theory, political science and communication research.
What it is for: Understanding what publics think for democratic decision-making and research.
It can be explain the concept and its measurement; relay polling methods and limits; present findings and theories with attribution; assess the quality of a poll.
Distinguishing features
Collective rather than individual
Measured with sampling error
Shaped by media and events
Central to democratic theory
What it looks like
Not visible; seen in polls, votes and public debate.
Physical character
typical poll sample: about 1000 respondents - national polls; margin of error about 3 percentage points
How it is recognised
Aggregate attitudes of a public
Measured by surveys and polls
Individual opinions and expert opinion are different things
Related models
is a kind of - of a public
is measured by - the instrument
is shaped by - a main influence
is studied by - and communication research
In practice
Families and kinds
opinion on policy issues
voting intention and electoral opinion
consumer and social sentiment
opinion climates and spirals of silence
issue ownership and media effects as research topics
Standards and regulation
Polling disclosure standards from bodies such as ESOMAR and AAPOR
Rules on publishing polls near elections in some countries
Data protection for survey data
Failure modes and hazards
Misreading polls beyond their error and design
Push polls and manipulation
Presenting opinion as fact
Ignoring non-response and coverage bias
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Concept What public opinion is.
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
- What is public opinion, and how do scholars define and theorise it, with attribution? definition
- Is the question about public opinion or about individual or expert opinion? boundary
Formation
How opinion forms.
Formation
Formation.
- How do media, events, elites and social influence shape public opinion, with findings attributed? provenance
- Which entry fits media effects? action
Measure Polling.
Method.
Methods
Survey methods.
Methods
Methods.
- How are polls designed and sampled, and what do margins of error mean? measurement
- Which entry fits survey methodology? action
Quality
Assessing a poll.
Quality
Quality.
- How is the quality of a given poll assessed from its disclosure? action
- Is the poll sourced with its method and date? boundary
Use Use in politics and research.
Application.
Politics
Politics and policy.
Politics
Politics.
- How is public opinion used in elections, policy and governance? provenance
- Which entry fits elections? action
Research
Research findings.
Research
Research.
- What do major surveys and studies find about opinion on a topic, with sources and dates? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Context History and regulation.
Context.
History
History.
History
History.
- How did the concept and polling develop? provenance
- Which entry fits the history of polling? action
Rules
Rules and ethics.
Rules
Rules.
- What rules and ethical standards govern polling and its publication? provenance
- Which entry fits polling standards? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should opinion polling be a separate entry?
- How should polling archives be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases for media effects and voter sentiment; should they be split off?