Show Public opinion is usually taken as the opinion of the public. In a democratic system public opinion occupies an important place as because public opinion is considered as the voice of the people. By public we do not mean an exact number of individuals or a fixed body of individuals. The word public stands for a section of society who share a common interest, holds similar views and opinion on the matters of public concern. As it is also not necessary that public opinion will be the opinion of all the people as it is also not the opinion of the majority. Public opinion necessarily reflects the diversity of opinion. By this we came to know that public opinion is not the opinion of the individual nor it is a private opinion that has a status symbol or a high standard of living. Further it also should be understood that it is not an opinion of the expert, irrespective of the wisdom of the expert. Public opinion is an organized and a considered opinion of a section or many sections of the people on any public issue and concern. The formation of public opinion is not an automatic and a definite process rather it is a very complex process of formation. Like, the air cannot be seen but we can feel its presence in the same way public opinion cannot be seen but its effects can be felt. When an issue of public concern emerges the different sections of society express their different viewpoints. These viewpoints emerged through small debates, discussion, views of thinkers, writings of different writers on the present political happenings give either directly or indirectly a kick to the individuals to come across their own view or it may happen that the individuals may directly give a support to the writers view. The view on certain issues perhaps receives a greater attention that emerges as public opinion. There are both formal and informal processes for the formation of the public opinion. AGENCIES FOR THE FORMATION OF PUBLIC OPINION: There are many agencies which can help in the formation of public opinion. Some of the important agencies of public opinion are mentioned below.
There are many other agencies like public meetings, political literature, radio, television, cinemas, etc that equally helps in the formation of public opinion. Commentscomments Abstract With the rise of the democratic state came a strong emphasis on "the public" or "public opinion" in the study of politics. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a number of important works examined the contours of public opinion within a democracy. The study of public opinion since this early period has only intensified. However, recent work on public opinion is problematic: the theoretical and normative concerns and the political / sociological focus of the early works on public opinion are largely missing. Most modern studies of public opinion are psychologically driven and often truncated from broad concerns of American politics and democratic theory. In this article, I explicate the history of public opinion research, paying particular attention to the "early" works and how their concerns and emphases have been neglected by many "later" studies of public opinion. Through this history I aim to highlight the differences between the early and later phases and to suggest that much was lost in neglecting the concerns of the early writers on public opinion. While some contemporary researchers are, in fact, harking back to the early work, I conclude that a more thorough re-acquaintance with the classics of public opinion is necessary. Journal Information Current issues are available on the Chicago Journals website: Read the latest issue. Polity is the journal of the Northeastern Political Science Association, published quarterly since 1968. As a general-interest journal, it has always sought to publish work of interest to a broad range of political scientists — work that is lively, provocative, and readable. Polity is devoted to the premise that political knowledge advances through scholarly communication across subdiscipline boundaries. Publisher Information Since its origins in 1890 as one of the three main divisions of the University of Chicago, The University of Chicago Press has embraced as its mission the obligation to disseminate scholarship of the highest standard and to publish serious works that promote education, foster public understanding, and enrich cultural life. Today, the Journals Division publishes more than 70 journals and hardcover serials, in a wide range of academic disciplines, including the social sciences, the humanities, education, the biological and medical sciences, and the physical sciences. Rights & Usage This item is part of a JSTOR Collection. Which of the following is the earliest and one of the most significant agents in the political socialization process?Political socialization begins in childhood. Some research suggests that family and school teachers are the most influential factors in socializing children, but recent research designs have more accurately estimated the high influence of the media in the process of political socialization.
What factors influence public opinion quizlet?The main factors shaping public opinion include family, school/education, mass media, peer groups, opinion leaders, and historic events.
What is the form of opinion known as public opinion quizlet?(pg266)Political scientist; defined public opinion more specifically as "those opinions held by private persons which the government finds it prudent to heed". voting, political rallies and protest rallies, news media, public opinion poll.
What is public opinion quizlet?public opinion. definition: the distribution of individual preferences or evaluations of a given issue, candidate, or institution within a specific population.
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