Ch. 6 - Public Opinion Flashcards
what is policy mood?
The level of public support for expanding the government’s role in society, whether the public wants government action on a specific issue.
what is political socialization?
The process by which an individual’s political opinions are shaped by other people and the surrounding culture
Sample error depends on…
size of the sample
liberal or conservative ideology is typically formed ____ in life. Over time, it is relatively _____.
early, stable
If the poll is almost half and half percentage with the difference being smaller than the sampling size, what does this mean?
it would be a mistake to conclude the higher percentage as the overall popular opinion
what is ideologic polarization?
sharp differences in Americans’ overall ideas of the size and scope of government
what is the sampling error/margin of error?
how large does the sampling size have to be to provide a reliable insight into public opinion?
1,000 - 5,000 respondents
what are social groups?
where people are grouped on identities, like sex, age…. etc
what are ways social groups shape opinions?
learning from people around us, or relying on others who look like us, and political parties will go after certain groups of people
what is the PEW research center?
cell phones and no cell phone contacts, oversamples, online surveys, survey access, don’t adjust results
what is the social desirability bias?
when you respond with a socially favorable answer
what are latent opinions?
an opinion formed on the spot (as distinct from a deeply held opinion that is stable over time)
what is public opinion?
citizens views on politics and government action
