Characteristics of Nonopinion and No Opinion Response Groups

Abstract

In a nationwide survey concerning the public acceptance of wind energy conversion systems, interviewers were trained to classify equivocal responses as nonexistent (don't know) or ambivalent (no opinion) opinion states. After the respondents were classified into one of four opinion groups (don't know, no opinion, oppose, or favor), an among-groups discriminant analysis was employed using six independent variables. These variables were an individual's level of formal education, awareness, mass media exposure, knowledge about the topic, city size, and physical wind energy potential of the state in which the respondent lived. Results showed that the 'don't know' and 'no opinion' groups differed not only from substantive opinion groups (favor and oppose) but also from each other. Those whose responses were classified as nonexistent opinions were less educated and had lower mass media use and lower knowledge scores than respondents classed as holding ambivalent opinions.