FYUG Even Semester Exam, 2025 Political Science: PLSSEC-151 Public Opinion and Survey Research

Course No: PLSSEC-151

Semester: 2nd Semester

Full Marks: 50

Pass Marks: 20

Time: 2 Hours

UNIT—I

1 × 3 = 3

1. Very Short Answer Questions

(a) Define public opinion.
Public opinion refers to the collective views, attitudes, and beliefs held by the adult population of a society on matters of public concern or government policy.

(b) Who wrote the book, "The Public Opinion"?
The book was written by Walter Lippmann.

(c) In which country was Gallup Poll first introduced?
Gallup Poll was first introduced in the United States of America (USA).

(d) Who said, "An alert and intelligent public opinion is the first essential force of democracy"?
This statement was made by Lord Bryce.

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2. Short Answer Questions

(a) Mention two characteristics of public opinion.

  • Rationality: It is generally based on reasoned thinking rather than mere emotions.
  • Public Interest: It is directed toward the common good of the community rather than individual gain.

(b) Write briefly the role of political parties in forming public opinion.

Political parties act as bridges between the government and the people. They organize rallies, publish manifestos, and conduct debates to educate the public on social and political issues, thereby shaping the collective mindset.

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3. Descriptive Questions

(a) Discuss about the various agencies that help in the formation of public opinion.

  • Press and Media: Newspapers, television, and internet provide information and analysis that influence how people think.
  • Educational Institutions: Schools and colleges instill values and critical thinking skills in citizens.
  • Political Parties: They highlight specific issues and offer solutions to the public.
  • Legislature: Debates within the parliament or assembly are reported to the public, forming their views on laws.
  • Religious and Social Organizations: These groups influence the moral and ethical opinions of their followers.

(b) Write a note on the importance of public opinion in a democracy.

Public opinion is the bedrock of democracy. Its importance includes:

  • Control over Government: It prevents the government from becoming despotic or acting against the people's will.
  • Guidance for Policy: Legislators use public sentiment to draft laws that are acceptable to the society.
  • Citizen Participation: It encourages people to stay informed and engage in the political process.
  • Legitimacy: A government that follows public opinion enjoys greater moral authority and stability.

UNIT—II

1 × 3 = 3

4. Very Short Answer Questions

(a) What is sampling frame?
A sampling frame is a physical or electronic list of all the elements or units in a population from which a sample is actually drawn.

(b) Mention one characteristic of a good sample.
A good sample must be representative of the entire population.

(c) Name one type of probability sampling.
Simple Random Sampling is a primary type of probability sampling.

(d) What is sampling error?
Sampling error is the difference between the results obtained from a sample and the actual values of the entire population.

2

5. Short Answer Questions

(a) Write the names of two types of sampling.

  • Probability Sampling: Every unit has a known chance of being selected.
  • Non-probability Sampling: Selection is based on the researcher's judgment or convenience.

(b) Mention two purposes of sampling.

  • Saves Time and Cost: It is cheaper and faster than studying an entire population.
  • Accuracy: Detailed study of a small group often yields more accurate results than a superficial study of a large group.
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6. Descriptive Questions

(a) Discuss the types of non-probability sampling.

  • Convenience Sampling: Units are selected based on their easy accessibility to the researcher.
  • Quota Sampling: The researcher ensures that certain subgroups are represented in the sample in specific proportions.
  • Judgmental/Purposive Sampling: The researcher uses their own expertise to select units that are most useful for the study.
  • Snowball Sampling: Existing subjects recruit future subjects from among their acquaintances.

(b) Write notes on the advantages and limitations of sampling.

Advantages: Economical in terms of money, labor, and time; allows for intensive data collection.
Limitations: High chance of bias if the sample is not representative; requires specialized knowledge to design; presence of sampling error.

UNIT—III

1 × 3 = 3

7. Very Short Answer Questions

(a) Mention one objective of interview.
The primary objective is to obtain first-hand information directly from the respondent.

(b) Write one characteristic of a good questionnaire.
A good questionnaire should have clear and unambiguous questions.

(c) What is schedule?
A schedule is a list of questions used for data collection, where the enumerator or researcher reads the questions to the respondent and records the answers.

(d) Who said, "Interview may be regarded as a systematic method by which a person enters more or less imaginatively into the life of a comparative stranger"?
This was stated by P.V. Young.

2

8. Short Answer Questions

(a) Write two differences between questionnaire and schedule.

Questionnaire Schedule
Generally sent to respondents by mail or online. Filled by the researcher/enumerator during a face-to-face meeting.
Relatively cheaper and covers wide areas. Expensive and time-consuming but yields higher response rates.

(b) Write two advantages of interview method.

  • In-depth Information: It allows for probing and follow-up questions to understand complex issues.
  • Observational Data: The researcher can observe the respondent's non-verbal cues (body language).
5

9. Descriptive Questions

(a) Write a note on the merits and demerits of questionnaire.

Merits: Wide coverage, maintains anonymity of the respondent, and provides standardized data.
Demerits: High rate of non-response, limited only to literate populations, and lacks personal touch for complex inquiries.

(b) Discuss briefly the different types of schedule.

  • Observation Schedule: Used to record data through direct observation.
  • Rating Schedule: Used to assess attitudes or opinions on a scale.
  • Interview Schedule: The standard list of questions used during a structured interview.
  • Document Schedule: Used to extract data from written records or documents.

UNIT—IV

1 × 3 = 3

10. Very Short Answer Questions

(a) What is data analysis?
Data analysis is the process of inspecting, cleaning, transforming, and modeling data to discover useful information and support decision-making.

(b) Why is coding necessary?
Coding is necessary to convert raw qualitative data into numerical symbols so that it can be easily tabulated and analyzed.

(c) What is frequency distribution?
It is a summary of how often each value in a set of data occurs.

(d) Write one source of data for content analysis.
Newspapers or magazines are common sources.

2

11. Short Answer Questions

(a) Write two advantages of tabulation of data.

  • Simplification: It makes complex data easy to understand and remember.
  • Comparison: It facilitates easy comparison between different categories or groups.

(b) Write two significances of discourse analysis.

  • Understanding Power: It reveals how language is used to maintain social or political power.
  • Contextual Insight: It helps in understanding the social and cultural context behind communication.
5

12. Descriptive Questions

(a) Explain the different steps in data processing.

  1. Editing: Checking raw data for errors and omissions.
  2. Coding: Assigning symbols or numbers to categories.
  3. Classification: Grouping data based on common characteristics.
  4. Tabulation: Arranging data into rows and columns in a table.

(b) Discuss the strengths and limitations of content analysis.

Strengths: Unobtrusive (does not affect subjects), cost-effective, and allows for the study of historical trends.
Limitations: Can be time-consuming, prone to researcher bias, and limited only to recorded communication.

UNIT—V

1 × 3 = 3

13. Very Short Answer Questions

(a) What is exit poll?
An exit poll is a survey conducted with voters immediately after they have left the polling station to predict the outcome of an election.

(b) Who is the founder of NDTV?
Prannoy Roy and Radhika Roy founded NDTV.

(c) Who edited the book, "The Great March of Democracy"?
The book was edited by S.Y. Quraishi.

(d) Write one merit of opinion poll.
It provides a snapshot of public sentiment on specific issues at a particular time.

2

14. Short Answer Questions

(a) Name two agencies that conduct opinion polls in India.

  • CSDS (Lokniti)
  • CVoter

(b) Who founded the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) and in which year?

CSDS was founded by Rajni Kothari in the year 1963.

5

15. Descriptive Questions

(a) Write down the demerits of opinion poll.

  • Bandwagon Effect: It might influence undecided voters to vote for the predicted winner.
  • Inaccuracy: Small or biased samples often lead to wrong predictions.
  • Manipulation: They can be funded by political parties to manufacture a favorable perception.

(b) Should there be a ban on opinion polls? Give your arguments to justify.

Arguments for a Ban: They interfere with the free choice of voters and can be easily manipulated by media houses for TRPs.
Arguments against a Ban: Banning them violates the freedom of speech and expression; they provide useful data for academic research.

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