SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH 18, 53-69 (1989) Perceptions of Others’ Opinions as a Component of Public Opinion CARROLL J. GLYNN Department of Communication, Cornell University This study investigates some relationships between stated opinions and per- ceptions of others’ opinions, clarifying certain ambiguities in the use of perceptual approaches in public opinion research. The study provides evidence that respondents perceive others as similar to themselves in opinions and values, suggesting support for the “looking glass hypothesis.” However, there was also evidence of an “ideological bias”-respondents tend to see neighbors as having more conservative opinions than their own and to see others living in the city as having more liberal opinions than their own. The study indicates that perceptions are important in understanding public opinion mechanisms but that we are far from a full un- derstanding of the underlying process involved. o 1989 Academic press, IIK. Social science researchers and public opinion pollsters often assume that aggregations of stated opinions best express the public’s opinion. However, recent research has suggested the need for researchers to return to a consideration of perceptions of others’ opinions as an important component in the public opinion process (e.g., Fields and &human, 1976; O’Gorman and Garry, 1976; Lemert, 1981; Noelle-Neumann, 1984). In current approaches, researchers investigated the influence of per- ceptions on subsequent cognitions and behavior. Importance is placed on attention to perceptions of others’ opinions as well as to own stated opinions because the former may be more reflective of “true” feelings, especially on controversial topics or taboos. In addition, it has long been known that regardless of how “true” own stated opinions are, people may act as much or more on the basis of their perceptions as they do on their own opinions or attitudes (Schanck, 1932). This study investigates some relationships between stated opinions and perceptions of others’ opinions, clarifying certain ambiguities in the use of perceptual approaches in public opinion research. Address requests for reprints to Dr. Carroll J. Glynn, 312 Roberts Hall, Department of Communication, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. 53 0049-089x/89 $3.00 Copyright 0 1989 by Academic F’ress, Inc. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.