Measurement of Public Opinion:
(i) Public opinion can be measured through speeches, articles, and interviews, expressed in the media or the press.
(ii) It can also be measured through an opinion poll. A survey carried out on a sample of a given population or area on given issues to measure the wishes of the people on a given issue can be taken as the opinion of the general public on a given issue.
(iii) Public demonstrations or protests can also be a measure of public opinion.
(iv) Election: General elections, referendums, and plebiscites are mediums for measuring public opinion. Results of such elections measure public opinion on given issues.
(v) Opinion of opinion leaders on given issues such as traditional leaders, religious leaders, and activists are measures of public opinion.
Importance of Public Opinion:
(i) It helps the government to find out the view of the public on its programmes and policies.
(ii) Public opinion can help control the excesses of government.
(iii) Through public opinion the government can determine the needs and aspirations of the general public.
(iv) The government through propaganda can manipulate public opinion in favour of government policies and programmes.
(v) The government that respects public opinion will enjoy popular support and recognition of the people.
(vi) Public opinion is an important link between the rules and the ruled.
Demerits of Public Opinion:
(i) Public Opinions can be manipulated by a few to satisfy their selfish interests.
(ii) The government can manipulate public opinion also through mass propaganda.
(iii) Public opinion views may not represent the opinion of the majority of the people on a given public issue.
(iv) Public opinion can be misleading. It may sometimes not present the true pictures of things. People sometimes answer pollsters’ questions just to be polite because they figure they probably ought to have an opinion.
(v) Incessant adoption of political instability.
Responses