Lapsed Memory? The Roots of American Public Opinion Research

A Critique of Internet Polls as Symbolic Representation and Pseudo-Events

“…The history of the poll has been traced by political scientists and communication scholars (cf., Herbst, 1990Herbst, , 1998Hogan, 1997;Korzi, 2000;Rubenstein, 1995). For the purposes of this article, however, we trace polling from its original intent as a tool for informing public policy to its current application as a news and entertainment tool.…”

Understanding Public Views of Wrongful Conviction Frequency and Government Responsibility for Compensation: Results From a National Sample

“…The public directly and indirectly influences the administration of justice; citizens report crimes, provide evidence to the police, serve as jury members or witnesses, and assist with maintaining social order. Public opinion is also critical in democracies where citizens vote for and elect officials who represent their interests and enact various policies and practices (e.g., Boswell & Smith, 2017; Burstein, 2003; Korzi, 2000; Sharp, 1999). If the public believes wrongful convictions are common, they may doubt the effectiveness and integrity of the system, which in turn, may undermine the process of criminal justice (Ramsey & Frank, 2007).…”