FYUG Even Semester Exam, 2024
Political Science: Public Opinion and Survey Research
Section-A
(Answer any fifteen questions. Each question carries 1 mark.)
1. What is public opinion? [1 Mark]
Public opinion is the collective expression of attitudes, beliefs, and views held by the adult population of a society on matters of public concern or government policy.
2. "Newspapers are the Bible of Democracy." Who said it? [1 Mark]
This statement is attributed to Walter Lippmann (commonly associated with the role of press in democracy).
3. What is the meaning of 'vox populi vox Dei'? [1 Mark]
It is a Latin phrase meaning "The voice of the people is the voice of God."
4. Who introduced the concept 'General Will'? [1 Mark]
The concept was introduced by Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
5. What is sampling? [1 Mark]
Sampling is a statistical process of selecting a representative group or subset from a larger population to estimate characteristics of the whole population.
6. Mention one characteristic of sampling. [1 Mark]
A primary characteristic is Representativeness, meaning the sample must accurately reflect the diversity and proportions of the entire population.
7. Define Census. [1 Mark]
A census is the complete and systematic counting or survey of an entire population, recording various details of individuals at a specific time.
8. What is sampling unit? [1 Mark]
A sampling unit is a single element or group of elements (such as an individual, household, or organization) that can be selected from the population during the sampling process.
9. What is interviewing? [1 Mark]
Interviewing is a qualitative research technique involving a direct conversation between an interviewer and a respondent to gather detailed information or opinions.
10. Mention one merit of interviewing. [1 Mark]
One major merit is High Response Rate, as direct human interaction often encourages respondents to provide complete answers compared to mailed surveys.
11. What is questionnaire? [1 Mark]
A questionnaire is a research instrument consisting of a series of questions and other prompts for the purpose of gathering information from respondents.
12. Mention one object of questionnaire. [1 Mark]
The primary object is to collect standardized data from a large number of people in a structured and efficient manner.
13. What is data? [1 Mark]
Data refers to raw facts, figures, observations, or statistics collected for analysis or reference.
14. What is data processing? [1 Mark]
Data processing is the series of operations performed on raw data (like cleaning, coding, and sorting) to transform it into meaningful and useful information.
15. What do you mean by editing? [1 Mark]
Editing in research is the process of examining collected data to detect and correct errors and omissions to ensure accuracy and consistency.
16. What is tabulation? [1 Mark]
Tabulation is the systematic arrangement of processed data into columns and rows in the form of a table for easy comparison and analysis.
17. What is opinion poll? [1 Mark]
An opinion poll is a human research survey of public opinion from a particular sample, designed to represent the views of a larger population on specific topics.
18. Who is considered as the father of opinion poll in India? [1 Mark]
Dr. Prannoy Roy is widely considered the pioneer/father of opinion polls and psephology in India.
19. What do you mean by 'Psephology'? [1 Mark]
Psephology is the scientific study of elections and voting patterns, using statistics and public opinion polls to predict results.
20. Who founded the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS)? [1 Mark]
It was founded by Rajni Kothari in 1963.
Section-B
(Answer any five questions. Each question carries 2 marks.)
21. Write two conditions for the formation of public opinion. [2 Marks]
- Free Press: An independent media is necessary to disseminate information and facilitate public discourse.
- Public Awareness: Citizens must have a basic level of education and interest in public issues to form meaningful opinions.
22. Mention any two agencies of public opinion. [2 Marks]
- Press/Media: Newspapers, television, and digital platforms.
- Political Parties: Organizations that shape public views through rallies, manifestos, and campaigns.
23. Mention two characteristics of good sample. [2 Marks]
- Representative: It must accurately reflect the characteristics of the whole population.
- Adequate Size: It should be large enough to minimize sampling errors and provide reliable results.
24. Point out two errors of sampling. [2 Marks]
- Selection Bias: Occurs when certain groups are systematically excluded from the sample.
- Non-Response Error: Occurs when the individuals selected for the sample refuse to participate or cannot be reached.
25. Write two advantages of questionnaire. [2 Marks]
- Cost-Effective: It is relatively cheap to administer, especially to a large geographic area.
- Anonymity: Respondents can remain anonymous, which often leads to more honest answers on sensitive topics.
26. Mention two merits of schedule. [2 Marks]
- Higher Accuracy: Since the researcher fills the form, they can explain questions to respondents to avoid misunderstandings.
- Personal Contact: Allows the researcher to observe the respondent's non-verbal reactions.
27. Mention two steps in data processing. [2 Marks]
- Coding: Assigning symbols or numbers to responses to facilitate computer processing.
- Data Entry: Transferring coded data into a digital format for statistical analysis.
28. What is interpretation of data? [2 Marks]
Interpretation of data is the process of attaching meaning to the analyzed information, identifying patterns, and drawing logical conclusions to answer research questions.
29. Mention two differences between opinion poll and exit poll. [2 Marks]
- Timing: Opinion polls are conducted before elections; exit polls are conducted immediately after voters leave the polling station.
- Purpose: Opinion polls track shifting preferences; exit polls aim to predict final results and understand why people voted as they did.
30. Write two merits of opinion poll. [2 Marks]
- Democratic Feedback: It allows the government to understand public sentiment on various issues.
- Scientific Prediction: Provides a systematic way to gauge the likely outcome of events like elections.
Section-C
(Answer any five questions. Each question carries 5 marks.)
31. Discuss the characteristics of public opinion. [5 Marks]
- Collective Nature: It represents the consensus or dominant view of a group, not just an individual.
- Dynamic: Public opinion is not static; it changes with new information, events, or campaigns.
- Based on Public Interest: It typically concerns matters that affect the community at large, such as inflation or social laws.
- Requires Expression: To be "public," an opinion must be expressed through media, protests, or voting.
- Influenced by Environment: Socio-economic conditions and cultural values shape how people form opinions.
33. Write a note on the importance of sampling in social research. [5 Marks]
Sampling is the backbone of modern social research because studying an entire population (census) is often impossible.
- Saves Time and Money: Analyzing a small representative group is significantly cheaper and faster than a full census.
- Greater Accuracy: With a smaller group, researchers can maintain higher control over the quality of data collection.
- Feasibility: In cases where a population is infinite or hard to reach, sampling is the only practical option.
- Detailed Study: Smaller samples allow for more in-depth, intensive investigation of each unit.
35. Write a note on the qualities of a good questionnaire. [5 Marks]
A good questionnaire is essential for reliable data. Its key qualities include:
- Clarity: Questions must use simple, non-technical language to avoid confusion.
- Short and Precise: It should not be overly long, as this leads to "respondent fatigue."
- Logical Sequence: Questions should move from easy/general topics to more complex/personal ones.
- Objectivity: Questions should not be "leading" or biased toward a particular answer.
- Proper Formatting: Clear instructions and enough space for answers improve the response quality.
36. Explain the techniques of interviewing. [5 Marks]
Successful interviewing requires specific techniques to build rapport and ensure honest data:
- Rapport Building: The interviewer must establish a friendly, trusting atmosphere at the start.
- Probing: Using follow-up questions to encourage the respondent to expand on vague answers.
- Active Listening: Showing interest through verbal and non-verbal cues without interrupting the respondent.
- Recording: Taking accurate notes or using a voice recorder (with consent) to capture exact responses.
- Neutrality: The interviewer must remain completely neutral and not express their own opinions during the session.
39. Explain the merits and demerits of opinion poll in India. [5 Marks]
In the world's largest democracy, opinion polls are both celebrated and criticized.
Merits:
- Provides a scientific basis for predicting electoral outcomes.
- Helps political parties refine their strategies based on public needs.
- Encourages public debate on key national issues.
Demerits:
- Bandwagon Effect: Some argue polls influence undecided voters to "join the winning side."
- Questionable Neutrality: Some polls may be funded by parties to create a false narrative.
- Sampling Errors: In a country as diverse as India, reaching a truly representative sample is extremely difficult.