Other Definitions
public opinion (dict)
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Public OpinionFor the book by Walter Lippmann, see Public Opinion. Public opinion is the aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs held by the adult population. Jrgen Habermas, a German, contributed the idea of "Public Sphere" to the discussion of public opinion. Public Sphere, as he argued, is where “something approaching public opinion can be formed”(2004, p.351). It is featured as universal access, rational debate, and disregard for rank. However, these three features for how public opinion SHOULD be formed are not in place in western democracy. Public opinion is highly susceptible to elite manipulation. Public opinion can be influenced by public relations and the political media. Additionally, mass media utilizes a wide variety of advertising techniques to get their message out and change the minds of people. Disturbingly enough, not all people realize propaganda when they see it. The tide of public opinion becomes more and more crucial during political elections, most importantly elections determining the national executive. It is frequently measured using the method of survey sampling. See also
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