FromTo


Article from Public Agenda

A Moving Target: Understanding Stages of Public Opinion

Poll_istock_m.jpg

When it comes to public opinion, when you ask a survey question is as important as what you ask. People's views about an issue can develop and change over time: from disconnected, poorly informed responses to more thoughtful and considered conclusions, and from quick, changeable reactions to settled public judgment. This process evolves through seven distinct stages, according to Daniel Yankelovich, author, public opinion analyst and co-founder of Public Agenda.