Chapter 11

What the public thinks about a particular issue or set of issues at any point in time.

Interviews or surveys with samples of cittizens that are used to estimate the feelings and beliefs of the entire population.

Unscientific survey used to gauge public opinion on a variety of issues and policies.

A subset of the whole population selected to be questioned for the purposes of prediction or gauging opinion.

Polls conducted as voters leave selected polling places on Election Day.

Continuous surveys that enable a campaign or news organization to chart a candidates daily rise or fall in support.

Polls taken for the purpose of providing information on an opponent that would lead respondents to vote against that candidate.

A method of poll selection that gives each person in a group the same chance of being selected.

A variation of random sampling; the population is divided into subgroups and weighted based on demographic characteristics of the national population.

A meassure of the accuracy of a public opinion poll.

The process through which individuals acquire their political beliefs and values.