ap gov chapter 10 vocabulary

Question 1

public opinion

Answer 1

what the public thinks about a particular issue or set of issues at any point in time

Question 2

public opinion polls

Answer 2

interviews or surveys with samples of citizens that are used to estimate the feelings and beliefs of the entire population

Question 3

George Gallup

Answer 3

one of the earliest developers of scientific methods for public opinion polling and a proponent for a strong role for the voice of the public in politics and government

Question 4

straw poll

Answer 4

unscientific survey used to gauge public opinion on a variety of issues and policies

Question 5

sample

Answer 5

a subset of the whole population selected to be questioned for the purpose of prediction or gauging opinion

Question 6

population

Answer 6

the entire group of people who’s attitude a researcher wishes to measure

Question 7

random sampling

Answer 7

a method of poll selection that gives each person in a group the same chance of being selected

Question 8

stratified sampling

Answer 8

a variation of random sampling; the population is divided into subgroups and weighted based on demographic characteristics of the national population

Question 9

tracking polls

Answer 9

continuous surveys that enable a campaign or news organization to chart a candidate’s daily or weekly rise or fall in support

Question 10

exit polls

Answer 10

polls conducted as voters leave selected polling places on Election Day

Question 11

margin of error

Answer 11

a measure of the accuracy of a public opinion poll within statistical parameters

Question 12

sampling error

Answer 12

errors resulting from the size or the quality of a survey example

Question 13

political ideology

Answer 13

the coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of government held by groups and individuals

Question 14

conservative

Answer 14

one who favors limited government intervention, particularly in economic affairs

Question 15

social conservative

Answer 15

one who believes that the government should support and further traditional moral teachings

Question 16

liberal

Answer 16

one who favors greater governmental intervention, particularly in economic affairs and in the provision of social services

Question 17

moderate

Answer 17

a person who takes a relatively centrist or middle-of-the-road view on most political issues

Question 18

statist

Answer 18

one who believes in extensive government control of personal and economic liberties

Question 19

libertarian

Answer 19

one who believes in limited government interference in personal and economic liberties

Question 20

political socialization

Answer 20

the process through which individuals acquire their political beliefs and values

Question 21

push polls

Answer 21

polls taken for the purpose of providing information on an opponent that would lead respondents to vote against that candidate

Question 22

American National Election Studies (ANES)

Answer 22

founded in 1962 by researchers at the University of Michigan and Stanford University, ANES collects data on the political attitudes and behavior among voters, such as party affiliation, voting practices, and opinions on parties and candidates