Chapter 6 Flashcards
This type of poll consists of a limited number of people from the overall population, selected in such a way that each has an equal chance of being chosen.
random sample
Over the years, Democrats and Republicans have moved further apart in their beliefs about the role of government. Over the last twenty-five years, their answers to various values questions have grown to a difference of ________%.
18
We can characterize various ideologies along a spectrum, as shown in Figure 6.6 of the textbook. In addition to what we see here, we can also add economic variations to this. The extremes would then be described as a command economy and as a ___________.
Laissez-faire economy
A state such as Georgia valuing tradition and basing their laws to maintain longstanding beliefs would be an example of ______________.
Political cultures
In this type of polling, a computer generates phone numbers with desired area codes without targeting specific numbers
Random-digit-dialing
Studies have shown that up to ______ of voters make decisions using their political party identification, especially in races where information about candidates is scarce
half
An example of an agent of political socialization would be:
a. Your parents
b. Your friends
c. Your church
d. All of the above
This political theory perhaps describes why Donald Trump was elected president in 2016 despite polls showing Hillary Clinton as winning
Bradley effect
This is the collection of popular views about something, perhaps a person, a local or national event, or a new idea
public opinion
This type of conservatism supports the authority of the monarchy and the church
traditional conservatism
Under this theory of government, there is common ownership of all property, the means of production, and materials.
communism
In a poll, this is the number that states how far the results may be from the actual opinion of the total population of citizens. For example, the _______ may equal +/-4. In a poll garnering someone 40 percent of the vote, the actual percentage could rest between 36 percent and 44 percent.
margin of error
Closely held ideas that support our values and expectations about life and politics
beliefs
70% of Americans claim that _________________ have socialized them to adopt beliefs that affect their politics
religious ceremonies
This is when the media pays more attention to candidates who poll well during the fall and the first few primaries
bandwagon effect
Which of these is not an example of a leading question?
How do you feel about Hillary Clinton as the next president of the United States?
Covert content is political information provided under the pretense that it is neutral. Which of these would not be an example of covert content?
Sean Hannity, a self-avowed Conservative commentator
The process by which we are trained to understand and join a country’s political world. This starts when we are very young, and we are influenced by how we grow up
political socialization
Public opinion about American institutions is measured in __________ rather than in questions of choice between positions or candidates
Public approval ratings
For most, a person’s first introduction to politics comes from which of the following sources?
family
Which of the following is not an agent of political socialization?
a U.S. senator
How are most attitudes formed?
In childhood, based on early childhood experiences
_____________ political content is given by a media source that lets the reader or viewer know upfront there is a political bias or position.
Overt
Where do your beliefs originate?
Guardians/Parents, School, Community
Which agents of socialization have the strongest impact on an individual?
Family
The Bradley effect occurs when people_____________
Say they will vote for a candidate but then vote against him/her.
Which of the following is NOT part of a scientific poll design?
a leading question
A poll states that Clinton will receive 43% of the vote. There is an 8% margin of error. What do you think of the poll.
Is it a non-representative poll and the margin of error is too high
Why do pollesters view random people throughout the country when trying to project which candidate will win a presidential election.
If a pollster interviews only a certain type of person, the sample will be biased and the poll will be inaccurate
How have changes in technology made polling more difficult.
Theres too many ways to make a poll and to count them is challenging, and lower class have worst polling areas.
Why are social politics controversial
They require government to balance the rights and liberties of different groups
Which factor affects congressional approval ratings the most
domestic events
which institution has the highest average public approval ratings
the supreme court
When are social and economic issues more likely to cause polarization in public opinion?
When the issues balance two controversial concerns, such as a limited budget and personal financial needs, or religious liberty and equality
How do polls affect presidential elections?
Polls tell voters the issues that the candidates support.
Presidential approval ratings________ over a presidents term of office
decline
which body of government is least susceptible to public opinion polls?
U.S. Supreme Court
Why would House of Representative members be more likely than the president to follow public opinion?
Representatives run for election every two years and must constantly raise campaign money. They abide by public opinion because do not have time to explain their actions or mend fences before each election
How does the media use public opinion polls during election season?
To see which way the voters are going to vote
Why might ones branch’ s approval ratings be higher than another’s?
because some branches only have a few people so it is easier to target them instead of a large branch
a person or entity that teaches and influences others about politics through use of information
agents of political socialization
increased media coverage of candidates who poll high
bandwagon effect
the difference between a poll result and an election result in which voters gave a socially desirable poll response rather than a true response that might be perceived as racist
Bradley effect
a political ideology based on belief in individual liberties and rights and the idea of free will, with little role for government
classical liberalism
a political and economic system in which, in theory, government promotes common ownership of all property, means of production, and materials to prevent the exploitation of workers while creating an equal society; in practice, most communist governments have used force to maintain control
communism
ideologically slanted information presented as unbiased information in order to influence public opinion
covert content
the widespread belief that a country and its legal system are legitimate
diffuse support
an election poll taken by interviewing voters as they leave a polling place
exit poll
a political system of total control by the ruling party or political leader over the economy, the military, society, and culture and often the private lives of citizens
fascism
a public opinion poll that measures a public’s positive feelings about a candidate or politician
favorability poll
shortcuts or rules of thumb for decision making
heuristics
day-to-day media coverage of candidate performance in the election
horserace coverage
a question worded to lead a respondent to give a desired answer
leading question
a number that states how far the poll results may be from the actual preferences of the total population of citizens
margin of error
a political ideology that prioritizes individual liberties, preferring a smaller government that stays out of the economy
modern conservatism
a political ideology focused on equality and supporting government intervention in society and the economy if it promotes equality
modern liberalism
political information whose author makes clear that only one side is presented
overt content
the prevailing political attitudes and beliefs within a society or region
political culture
a political opinion leader who alerts the public to changes or problems
political elite
the process of learning the norms and practices of a political system through others and societal institutions
political socialization
a collection of opinions of an individual or a group of individuals on a topic, person, or event
public opinion
politically biased campaign information presented as a poll in order to change minds
push poll
a limited number of people from the overall population selected in such a way that each has an equal chance of being chosen
random sample
a group of respondents demographically similar to the population of interest
representative sample
a political and economic system in which government uses its authority to promote social and economic equality, providing everyone with basic services and equal opportunities and requiring citizens with more wealth to contribute more
socialism
an informal and unofficial election poll conducted with a non-random population
straw poll
a theory that assumes the politician is in office to be the voice of the people and to vote only as the people want
theory of delegate representation
a political ideology supporting the authority of the monarchy and the church in the belief that government provides the rule of law
traditional conservatism
