AP Gov Review: Video #9, Public Opinion

In this video, I explain beliefs of the public as a whole, as well as how public opinion is measured.

All pictures are part of the public domain.

[jojoquigley]

Characteristics of Effective Polling:
1. Random Sampling.
2. Represent composition of the public.
(50% women, 13 % black, etc.)
3. Large sample size, low margin of error.
4. Neutral (unbiased) questions.

Sampling error of 3% where 50% of respondents answer a certain way means that the true percentage can be anywhere from 47% to53%

Bandwagon effect: people vote based upon how they perceive a majority of how others vote.