Suchergebnisse

Based on surveys conducted by major research institutes, 1980-85.

Public opinion as reported by polls can be misleading when it concerns issues about which the general public knows or cares little. On such issues the views of those most interested or involved deserve special attention. Survey data show that those who follow the news about a particular issue or issue area very closely—the "attentive public"—differ in personal characteristics and often in their opinions from both the general public and from the best-educated. Further, opinions of the attentive public are often better informed and more predictive of policy trends than are the views of the general public. By reporting attentive public opinion separately, pollsters can encourage policy makers to pay greater attention to it.

Aus US-amerikanischer Sicht

Persons influencing foreign-policy decision-making differ from those who are interested but not influential in terms of SES, communications exposure, & communications activity. Authors define 2 soc types: (1) Influentials (INF), non-gov'al persons in a local community who are in a position to influence foreign-policy decision-makers; & (2) Interested (INT), persons who are interested but have little influence on foreign affairs. A modified version of Hunter's method to delineate these types was used. INF were located through informal personal contacts & represented 39 local persons believed to be influential in foreign affairs; INT represented 100+ adults who participated in work affairs discussions in the community. Characteristics of the INF were (in contract to INT) : concentrated in legal & executive positions in business & industry, held many public offives, older, more educated, higher income, old residents, widely traveled, high media literacy, personal contacts with policymakers, influential both up ,& down the structure of community PO. Diff's were found between the INF & Merton's 'influentials', Almond's 'four elite groups', & Hunter's 'men of power'; & explained bythe remoteness of policy decisions from the local community & consequent diff's in the flow of influence. T. L. Blair.