Do Polls Influence Opinions? Investigating Poll Feedback Loops Using the Novel Dynamic Response Feedback Experimental Procedure

Opinion polls may inadvertently affect public opinion, as people may change their attitudes after learning what others think. A disconcerting possibility is that opinion polls have the ability to create information cascades, wherein the majority opinion becomes increasingly larger over time. Testing...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social science computer review 2018-12, Vol.36 (6), p.735-743
Main Authors: Arnesen, Sveinung, Johannesson, Mikael P., Linde, Jonas, Dahlberg, Stefan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attitudes
bandwagon
Cascades
Computer Science
Dynamic response
dynamic response feedback
Feedback
feedback loop
Feedback loops
Immunization
Information Science & Library Science
initial conditions
Internet
Measles
Other Topics
Political Science
Polls & surveys
Public opinion
Refugees
Social Sciences
Statsvetenskap
survey experiment
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Summary:Opinion polls may inadvertently affect public opinion, as people may change their attitudes after learning what others think. A disconcerting possibility is that opinion polls have the ability to create information cascades, wherein the majority opinion becomes increasingly larger over time. Testing poll influence on attitudes toward Syrian refugees and mandatory measles vaccination, we field survey experiments on a probability-based online survey panel. Through a novel automated procedure labeled the dynamic response feedback, we measure whether the answers from early poll respondents can influence the opinions of subsequent respondents who learn the answers of the previous respondents. Using this procedure, no feedback loops are identified.
ISSN:0894-4393
1552-8286
DOI:10.1177/0894439317731721