Public Opinion Polls in the 2023 Thai General Election: Unanalyzed Demographic Data
Keywords:
Demographic Information, Public Opinion Poll, Pierre Bourdieu, Class, BiasAbstract
By surveying public opinion before and during elections, the results of various polls inform us about the popularity of political parties and candidates, as well as predict the number of seats each political party may secure in the parliament and election outcomes. Surveys are beneficial for polling agencies, mass media, political parties, and candidates, as they provide insight into the preferences and predictions of the electorate. The findings of this study show that the typical opinion poll can fall short of serving the public as owners of sovereignty, as it often neglects to survey policies and issues relevant to the people. Additionally, polls fail to analyze demographic data that could help society understand the origin and trajectory of public opinions, issues, and needs. Economic, social, political, and cultural factors can impact survey results, as explained by Pierre Bourdieu. He elucidated the survey of public opinions and underscored the significance of demographic data analysis with class perspectives. When polling agencies overlook and exhibit bias in their surveys, they assume a guiding role in politics. This is because they prescribe information and the direction of the political situation through various media channels. Such a situation represents symbolic violence. To break free from this, prioritizing the analysis of demographic data and public policies in surveys could redirect attention from the political competition landscape to the issues and needs of the people.
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