Public Opinion – SS2 Government Lesson Note (First Term)

Public opinion can be defined as the beliefs, values and attitudes that are commonly held and expressed by the majority of the people on a given public issue. It refers to what members of the public think or feel about policies the government proposes or actions it has already taken.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• define public opinion;
• state the features of public opinion;
• explain how public opinion is formed;
• describe the methods of measuring public opinion;
• state the merits and demerits of public opinion.

What are the features of public opinion?

1. Issues of public importance are involved in public opinion.
2. The opinion is held or shared by the majority of people in a particular country.
3. The opinion is expressed by private individuals, not by the government or any of its agencies.
4. Communication and information play a significant role in the formation of public opinion.
5. Public opinion is dynamic. It changes from time to time.
6. Public opinion focuses on specific issues rather than general issues.

How is public opinion formed?

1. The mass media: Newspapers, radio, magazines, television, journals, films, handbills, leaflets and similar channels act as the basis for the formation of public opinion.
2. Elections: Political parties educate the people on important public issues during campaigns, rallies and similar events, and opinions are formed in this way.
3. Pressure groups: Organised social interest groups help in the formation of public opinion.
4. Political parties: Political parties, with the help of their manifestos, rallies and similar activities, act as the basis of public opinion formation in a country.
5. Individual influence: Citizens such as traditional rulers, intellectuals, tycoons, artists and other influential people who are not in the corridors of power act as public opinion moulders in a country.
6. Lectures and symposia: Public opinion can be formed through lectures and symposia where ideas on matters of public importance are expressed.
7. Rumours and gossip: Many citizens who are not well informed may form their opinions from common rumours and gossip.

How is public opinion measured?

1. Opinion polls: This is a method of asking questions of a selected sample of people. Their views are used to represent those of the entire population.
2. Elections: Elections serve as a means of measuring public opinion on the popularity or otherwise of the government.
3. Mass media: The government can find out people’s opinions by using all the channels of communication, for example opinions expressed in newspapers, on radio and on television.
4. Referendum or plebiscite: This is a method of referring a political question or government policy to the electorate for approval or disapproval.
5. Telephone calls: Most radio stations in Nigeria today use this method by presenting phone-in programmes.
6. Letters to the government: Citizens may write letters to the government expressing their opinions on a particular issue of national importance.
7. Opinions expressed by leaders of thought: Public opinion can also be measured through opinions expressed by local leaders of thought or by leaders in the representative assemblies.

What are the functions and merits of public opinion?

1. It lets the government know what the public thinks about its policies and actions.
2. It helps the government to know the needs and aspirations of its citizens.
3. It keeps the government and its agencies alert.
4. It leads to the formulation of policies and actions that are in the best interest of the majority of citizens.
5. In an election period, it helps the government to ascertain its popularity and whether it can win or lose the election.
6. It serves as an avenue through which public views are channelled to the government.
7. Public opinion, especially opinion polls, helps voters to cast their votes for popular candidates.

What are the demerits of public opinion?

1. It can easily be manipulated in their own favour by those who have access to the mass media.
2. It is difficult to measure the opinion of the people on a particular issue.
3. It may be the views of very few powerful and influential people in society.
4. It may give a wrong, confusing and distorted picture of a given issue.
5. It is often unreliable, so it is not advisable for the government to rely on it.
6. It can waste time and money in the effort to ascertain public opinion.
7. It may cause political instability when protests and demonstrations follow a government action that is seen as going against public opinion.

Evaluation

1. Define public opinion.
2. State four features of public opinion.
3. Explain three ways in which public opinion is formed.
4. Describe any three methods of measuring public opinion.
5. Give three demerits of public opinion.

Assignment

1. Explain the difference between a referendum and an opinion poll.
2. State four merits of public opinion.