| Throughout the history of political research, both public opinion and citizen knowledge have been extensively studied, examined, and surveyed. This paper will evaluate the role of the public and the source of their decisions as it relates to the controversial issue of capital punishment. It will also evaluate, by surveying undergraduate students, the decision-making process and opinions of students and whether or not exposure to informational material influences those decisions.;By utilizing a pre and posttest survey, this paper evaluates students' decisions and whether they are based on feelings or educational stimuli. Historically, research has shown that Americans are largely ill-informed and the public is typically ignorant on the specific intricacies of policies and other politically related issues. Exposure to information will likely change the policy preferences and opinions of Americans.;The relationship between public opinion and policy issues is crucial in the field of politics and the study of political science. Public opinion towards capital punishment has weighed heavily on state legislatures in recent years and has shown how important the issues and policies that the public passionately supports or opposes affects political agendas. |
