ABSTRACT
Public opinion, the collective beliefs of the people in a society, measures attitudes toward various issues facing the country. How does the nation’s citizenry feel about health care? Government spending? Education reform? Often, the answers to these and other questions are sought through public opinion surveys designed to inform policy makers and citizens more broadly of our perceptions. Therefore, public opinion plays an important role in American society, measuring thoughts and feelings on important political and social issues that affect everyday life. The practice of measuring public opinion also allows citizens to play a role in the political process, thus facilitating representation. Through polling, citizens have an opportunity to voice their opinions about public policy, increasing the chances that they can influence government and public discourse.
