Outline five ways in which Public opinion is being measured?

Ways in which public opinion is measured

Public opinion is the collective view or feeling of the majority of people on a particular issue of common concern. It can be measured or ascertained in the following ways.

1. Opinion polls and surveys: Trained pollsters interview a representative sample of the population and analyse their responses to gauge popular feeling.
2. Elections and referenda: The way people vote in elections and referendums reveals their opinion on candidates, parties and issues.
3. The mass media: Newspaper editorials, letters to the editor, phone-in programmes and social media reflect and reveal what the public is thinking.
4. Pressure groups and interest groups: The demands, petitions and campaigns of organised groups express the views of sections of the public.
5. Public meetings, rallies and demonstrations: The size and mood of crowds at rallies, protests and public gatherings indicate popular support or opposition.
6. Referendum and plebiscite results on specific questions directly show the opinion of the majority.