Public Opinion Government Research: motives, boundaries and the Brazilian recent experience

Authors

  • Wladimir G. Gramacho

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21874/rsp.v65i1.421

Abstract

This paper presents reasons to expect that representative governments conduct public opinion research in frequent and institutionalized bases. The rationale is divided into four sections. The first addresses theoretical and operational motives to understand why governments should follow variations in citizen preferences and opinions through time. The second describes some consequences of government popularity (or the lack of it), taking advantage of this short and crucial measure of the state of the relationship between representatives and represented. Next, the third section suggests some boundaries for public opinion government research, which allows distinguishing its scope from those conducted with scientific, marketing or electoral purposes. Finally, the last section describes the recent experience of the Brazilian government with public opinion research.

Keywords: public opinion, research, sample, democracy, federal government

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Published

2014-04-04

Issue

Section

Artigos

How to Cite

Public Opinion Government Research: motives, boundaries and the Brazilian recent experience. (2014). Revista Do Serviço Público, 65(1), 49-64. https://doi.org/10.21874/rsp.v65i1.421