A Historically Examine the Opinion Polling’s Viewpoint Structure in Postwar Japan

Abstract

　The purpose of this paper is to historically examine the opinion poll – a

system which was introduced to Japan – and to provide a multi-layered illustration

of its viewpoint structure.

　　We will first look at the role which opinion polls played in GHQ, and identify

the positions of multiple polling organizations within the structure. Next, we

will examine the viewpoints established by sociologists employed by PO&SR,

and highlight the fact that they relied on applied sociology and acknowledged

the opinion polls as a social technology. This paper will re-examine the opinion

poll under the confused ideology of GHQ.