Public Opinion Can Make or Break Your Policy Initiatives

 

We can help you understand and influence public opinion!

Public opinion can have an immense influence upon the future and even the very survival of organizations. We helped clients understand public opinion and the factors that shape it for more than 20 years. Our work has been used to plan the strategy for referenda and unbiased public input into policy decisions. We have helped pioneer innovative research to discover what various public groups’ think and how new information shapes this thinking. This process has been used on multiple occasions, bringing together representatives of diverse interest groups with the public, to construct a fair and unbiased research process to discover what an informed public thinks about a variety of issues. This process has been instrumental in shaping public policy. Our process enables you to understand current attitudes and to identify levers that can alter those attitudes. We can help you in three ways:


Public Opinion Surveys

Those who seek to have an impact upon public opinion or upon those policies, which are influenced by public opinion, need to have a thorough understanding of what people think and why they think the way they do. One of the best ways to do this is via public opinion surveys. Constructed properly, these types of surveys not only inform about what the public is thinking, but why they think that way. Quality survey research and analysis can identify the levers that can help influence public opinion and help our customers understand how to best implement those levers. Our surveys have been counted on by those seeking to influence public policy to develop communications strategy.

Qualitative Opinion Research

Sometimes the best initial approach to understanding public opinion and what drives it is qualitative research. This can take the form of individual interviews, in person or virtual focus groups. All three of these methods use a semi-structured interview approach that allows and encourages respondents to volunteer their thoughts. This allows the researcher to get “outside the box” of his/her and the clients thinking. We have found this approach particularly useful in surfacing emotions that often have a more powerful impact on people’s behavior than logical thinking. Focus groups allow us to see how individuals react to the ideas expressed by others and so provide insight into the power of different ways of thinking.

Deliberative Poll™

A Deliberative Poll® is a process that combines the rigors of research methodology with public participation to determine informed opinions of a population or constituency. It allows us to find out what a constituency would think if they were given an opportunity to become well informed on and to deliberate the issues under consideration. Deliberative Polling® has been demonstrated to be very powerful in transforming opinions of observers. By being exposed to participant thought processes as they become knowledgeable about issues and explore alternatives and consequences, observers often reexamine their own preconceived opinions in light of the learning and deliberative process. We have seen this experience lead to dramatic changes in opinions and actions of both public officials and corporate managers.
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“We work with clients throughout the country facing controversial political issues affected by public opinion. The Guild Group has developed sophisticated opinion research instruments that not only measure existing attitudes on issues, but also provide the foundation for developing complex strategies and plans for addressing those attitudes. The quality of their work is excellent and they are a pleasure to work with.”

Paul Mandabach, President

Winner/Wagner & Mandabach

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT FOR YOU?

  1. Understand what informed opinion is relative to a wide range of issues.
  2. Understand the issues that most influence opinions.
  3. Improve your ability to influence public opinion.
  4. Increase commitment to public policy initiatives.
  5. Avoid costly litigation.