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4 - When Public Opinion Is Stable and When It Is Not

from Part I - The Fundamentals of Public Opinion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 November 2024

Clifford Young  and
Kathryn Ziemer
Clifford Young
Affiliation:
Ipsos Public Affairs
Kathryn Ziemer
Affiliation:
Ipsos Public Affairs
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Summary

This chapter provides an overview of the arguments for the stability of public opinion as well as the arguments of those who believe public opinion is unstable. We then explore conditionality, or the conditions under which public opinion appears to be more unstable. Concepts such as low information rationality, issue salience, and question wording are covered.

Keywords

aggregate stabilityaggregate enlightenmentlaw of large numbersnon-attitudeslow information rationalityconditionalityissue saliencequestion wording
Type
Chapter
Information
Polls, Pollsters, and Public Opinion
A Guide for Decision-Makers
 , pp. 38 - 50
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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