Article February 11, 1991 Issue

SECOND THOUGHT

Looking again at news and commentary

Perry W. Buffington

SKY magazine

From SKY magazine, October 1990, by Perry W. Buffington

"Beliefs are as common as the individuals who hold them ... to prove the point, simply state an issue and ask for an opinion. Most have little difficulty voicing their positions on politics, taxes, defense, religion, and myriad other pertinent issues. However, while beliefs are widely held, convictions are less prevalent—and far less understood.

"One researcher, Robert P. Abelson, Ph.D., professor of psychology and political science at Yale University, has been studying belief systems for 20 years. He explains: 'What got me interested was that we are in the habit of looking at public-opinion poll data to determine what proportion favors a policy or a political candidate. Often, the preferences expressed in these polls are weakly held, and there are various ways that we know this—but that's another story.

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