Chapter 5

Question 1

Citizen’s attitudes about political issues, leaders, institutions, and events.

Answer 1

Public Opinion

Question 2

Basic principles that shape a person’s opinions about political issues and events.

Answer 2

Values (or beliefs)

Question 3

A specific preference on a particular issue.

Answer 3

Attitude (or opinion)

Question 4

Freedom from governmental control.

Answer 4

Liberty

Question 5

A widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential.

Answer 5

Equality of Opportunity

Question 6

A system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials.

Answer 6

Democracy

Question 7

A cohesive set of beliefs that forms a general philosophy about the role of government.

Answer 7

Political Ideology

Question 8

Today this term refers to those who generally support social and political reform; governmental intervention in the economy and more economic equality; the expansion of federal social services; and greater concern for consumers and the environment.

Answer 8

Liberal

Question 9

Today this term refers to those who generally support the social and economic status quo and are suspicious of efforts to introduce new political formulae and economic arrangements; conservatives believe that a large and powerful government poses a threat to citizens’ freedom.

Answer 9

Conservatives

Question 10

The induction of individuals into the political culture; learning the underlying beliefs and values on which the political system is based.

Answer 10

Political Socialization

Question 11

Social institutions, including families and schools, that help to shape individuals’ basic political beliefs and values.

Answer 11

Agents of Socialization

Question 12

A distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the differences in views between women and men.

Answer 12

Gender Gap

Question 13

The public forum in which beliefs and ideas are exchanged and compete.

Answer 13

Marketplace of Ideas

Question 14

*Three forces that play important roles in shaping opinions in the marketplace are the

Answer 14

government, private groups, and the news media.

Question 15

Scientific instruments for measuring public opinion.

Answer 15

Public – Opinion Polls

Question 16

A small group selected by researchers to represent the most important characteristics of an entire population.

Answer 16

Sample

Question 17

A method used by pollsters to select a representative sample in which every individual in the population has an equal probability of being selected as a respondent.

Answer 17

Simple Random Sample (or probability sample)

Question 18

A polling method in which respondents are selected at random from a list of 10-digit telephone numbers, with every effort made to avoid bias in the construction of the sample.

Answer 18

Random Digit Dialing

Question 19

Polling error that arises based on the small size of sample.

Answer 19

Sampling error (or margin of error)

Question 20

The effect that results when respondents in a survey report what they expect the interviewer wishes to hear rather than what they believe.

Answer 20

Social Desirability Effect

Question 21

The tendency to focus news coverage on only one aspect of an event or issue, avoiding coverage of other aspects.

Answer 21

Selection Bias (news)

Question 22

Polling error that arises when the sample is not representative of the population being studied, which creates errors in over-representing or underrepresenting some opinions.

Answer 22

Selection Bias (surveys)

Question 23

A polling technique in which the questions are designed to shape the respondent’s opinion.

Answer 23

Push Poling

Question 24

A shift in electoral support to the candidate whom public-opinion polls report as the frontrunner.

Answer 24

Bandwagon Effect