Promoting Classroom Use of Public Opinion Data

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Public Opinion Matters!

• Promoting Classroom Use of Public Opinion Data
• Developed by
• The Roper Center of the University of Connecticut

• Lois Timms-Ferrara
• The Roper Center, University of Connecticut
• IASSIST Conference 2003 Ottawa,
  Canada May 29, 2003

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Public Opinion Matters!

• The Purpose
• Defining the Program
• The User Community
• Methodological Modules
• Topical Modules
• The Structure
• Future Plans

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Public Opinion Matters!

• The Purpose
• To provide students and others the tools to be
  intelligent users of polling data
• Introduction to public opinion polling
  terminology
• Assist instructors develop sound lesson plans
  using actual poll results
• Ease intimidation that students often experience
  when approaching numbers
• Provide an orientation to the polling data
  available on particular subjects

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Public Opinion Matters!

• The User Community
• High Schools
• Social Studies, Civics, Mathematics, Language
  Arts
• Community Colleges and Undergraduates
• Social Science, Humanities, Business, Health
  Services
• Journalists
• - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
  - - - - - - - - - - -
• Roper Center Members
• iPOLL subscribers
• Polling Firms

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Public Opinion Matters!
Methodological Modules One set of Educational
Modules defines data collection techniques and
analytical methods used in the polling industry.

• Coverage of Methodological Modules
• Sampling
• Total Survey Error
• Margin of Error
• Coverage Error
• Measurement Error
• Non-response Error
• Question wording effects
• How to read data tables
• Various modes of interviewing

POM Polling 101
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Public Opinion Matters!

• Topical Modules
• The second set of Educational Modules offer
  substantive content on a number of different
  topics.

Coverage of Topical Modules Topics are chosen
based on timeliness of the issues, interest to
the potential user, and appropriate curricula.
Sampling of Topics Education Work Energy
Human Rights Homosexuality US Role in the
World Patriotism Youth
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Public Opinion Matters!

• Components of the Topical Modules
• Trends
• Group data
• Analytical summaries
• iPOLL
• Links to articles and data essays
• Links to the Catalog of Holdings
• Online secondary analysis tool
• Other links to related sites

POM
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Public Opinion Matters!

• Predetermined searches on specific subsets of the
  topics
• Features
• US public opinion data
• Top lines results
• Comprehensive
• Multiple sources and survey organizations

• Dataset Indentification
• Catalog of Holdings
• Studies identified on the featured topic
• Links to studies in the Roper Centers Catalog of
  Holdings
• Metadata on the relevant studies
• Downloadable documentation for most US surveys

iPOLL
Catalog
www.RoperCenter.uconn.edu
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Public Opinion Matters!

• Analytical Assistance
• Selections from Public Perspective
• Articles
• Data Features
• Summaries of polling data-- either comprehensive
  reviews or analytical pieces specific to a
  component of the topic.
• Other information sources include non-polling
  data that provide historical, cultural, or
  economic context.

POM
www.RoperCenter.uconn.edu
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Public Opinion Matters!

• Group Data
• Dynamically generated via an Online Data Analysis
  Tool
• Exploratory use
• Go beyond simple browsing of survey instrument to
  determine relevance
• Produce simple summary statistics for further
  evaluation
• Report generation
• Produce summary statistics for inclusion in
  reports
• Create multivariate statistical tables from raw
  data
• Classroom use
• Allows access to data files by individuals with
  various skill sets
• Frees up instruction time for teaching rather
  than development of technical skills

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Public Opinion Matters!

• Future Plans
• Development of links to more contextual
  information and special sample comparisons
  (international, state, subgroup data)
• Implementation of Express data set download
• Additional studies available in the Online Data
  Analysis Tool
• Expansion of Public Opinion Matters
  Methodological Modules to include analytical
  guidelines
• Development of Curriculum Guides to assist
  teachers in the use of the modules

• These Educational Modules will be available in
  these forms--
• Online via the Roper Center Web Site
• CD ROM
• Hardcopy Notebooks for instructors
• Hardcopy packets intended for classroom
  distribution

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The Roper Center
Where thinking people go to learn what people
are thinking.
Thank you