Public Opinion Polls

What is public opinion?

Public Opinion Polls take the pulse of America regarding many different issues.

They are also predictors of elections.

How do Election Polls Work?

There are different types of polls.

When looking at a poll, there are a few things you should consider:

When looking at a poll, there are a few things you should consider:

What are the definitions of the following terms?

• Distribution• Open Ended Questions• Universe (or population)• Consensus• Polarized• Manifest Opinion

Is polling accurate?

Discuss the following questions with your partner

• Why is it important for leaders to know latent opinions?

• What is salience? What issues are often salient to people?

• How has public opinion shaped policy? • How do politicians use polls?

Polling in the November 2012 Election Prior to the 1st Presidential Debate

• Gallup Poll– Obama 48%– Romney 45%

• CBS/NY Times Poll: Swing States– Obama a 53 percent to

44 percent lead in Florida and a 53 percent to 43 percent advantage in Ohio.

Polling in the November 2012 Election After the 1st Presidential Debate

Pew Research Survey of Likely Voters

49% Support Romney45% Support Obama

Pew Research Survey of Registered Voters

46% Support Romney AND Obama

• Gallup Poll of Registered Voters

47% Support Romney AND Obama

***Show video clip

In Review…

• What is public opinion? • Explain the different types of polls? • What must you consider when looking at a

poll?