METHODS OF STUDYING PUBLIC OPINION

Public opinion is a form of collective consciousness that includes both hidden and open attitudes toward social events, the activities of various groups, organizations, and individuals. It manifests in the approval or condemnation of specific social issues, defines the behavior of individuals and social groups, and establishes certain norms in social relations. It operates both within society at large and within different social groups. The activity and significance of public opinion are determined by the structural characteristics of society, the level of development of productive forces, culture, democratic legal norms, and freedoms. Public opinion is expressed in the election of government bodies, mass media, public surveys, and other forms of communication.