When referring to the act of collecting information about the views and attitudes of a group of people, there are a variety of phrases that can be used instead of "public-opinion poll." Other options include "survey," "opinion poll," and "attitude survey." These terms are often used interchangeably, and all refer to the practice of gathering data on the opinions and beliefs held by a particular population. In addition, some more colloquial phrases might include "popularity contest," "straw poll," or simply "poll." All of these phrases refer to the process of measuring and analyzing public opinion on a particular issue or range of issues, often with the ultimate goal of informing policy decisions or contributing to public discourse.