"The more official, the less I believe": Using focus groups to explore public opinion formation in politically polarized contexts

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dc.contributor.authorPavez, Isabel
dc.contributor.authorSaldana, Magdalena
dc.contributor.authorCabalin, Cristian
dc.contributor.authorScherman, Andres
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-20T16:12:00Z
dc.date.available2025-01-20T16:12:00Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.description.abstractIntroductionPublic opinion studies have traditionally relied on survey analyses. However, a qualitative approach is needed to address opinion formation's multidimensional and contextual nature. In this study, we argue that focus groups are a technique that addresses these unique challenges.MethodsWe test this argument by looking at the case of Chile, a country marked by a streak of eight elections in three years, including two national referendums for a constitutional proposal. In this politically polarized setting, and over the course of the latter election year, we conducted 10 focus groups comprising a diverse sample in terms of gender, age, socioeconomic status, and occupation. As participants shared news diets, political views, and values, data suggest a tendency to independently verify information regardless of the source, and highly influenced by their close ones.ResultsFrom a methodological perspective, our findings show that focus groups enable the assessment of the context-situated opinion formation process, reveal emerging themes, and promote open discussion. These results also reflect the multifaceted nature of public opinion formation in a dynamic media landscape and can inform other countries undergoing a crisis of institutional legitimacy.
dc.fuente.origenWOS
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/ssqu.13421
dc.identifier.eissn1540-6237
dc.identifier.issn0038-4941
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1111/ssqu.13421
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/90307
dc.identifier.wosidWOS:001281652200001
dc.issue.numero5
dc.language.isoen
dc.pagina.final1599
dc.pagina.inicio1587
dc.revistaSocial science quarterly
dc.rightsacceso restringido
dc.subjectChile
dc.subjectfocus groups
dc.subjectnews media
dc.subjectpolitical discussion
dc.subjectpublic opinion
dc.subject.ods03 Good Health and Well-being
dc.subject.odspa03 Salud y bienestar
dc.title"The more official, the less I believe": Using focus groups to explore public opinion formation in politically polarized contexts
dc.typeartículo
dc.volumen105
sipa.indexWOS
sipa.trazabilidadWOS;2025-01-12
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