Organizations Have Opinions: A Redefinition of Publics

In: Public opinion quarterly: journal of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, Band 45, Heft 4, S. 463-476

Abstract

Random telephone interviews of about 100 organizations & persons in the Greater Hartford (Conn) area using standard PO questions strongly suggest: (1) one can ask organizations (as much as individuals) about their political & social views -- their spokespersons will make a serious effort to answer such questions; (2) by this token, organizations have opinions; & (3) these opinions differ materially from the opinions of individuals on a select number of PO questions. The routine exclusion of organizations from polling may well produce a misrepresentation of the state of PO because organizations are among the more important political actors of contemporary society. 3 Tables. AA.