Chapter 6 Key Terms Flashcards
public opinion
the distribution of the population’s beliefs about politics and policy issues
demography
the science of population changes
census
a valuable tool for understanding demographic changes.
melting pot
the mixing of cultures, ideas, and peoples that has changed the american nation.
minority majority
the emergence of a non-Christian majority, as compared with a White, generally Anglo-Savon majority.
sample
a relatively small proportion of people who are chosen in a survey so as to be representive of the whole
random sampling
the key technique employed by sophisticated survey researchers, which operates on the principle that everyone should have an equal probability of being selected for the sample
sampling error
the level of confidence in the fundings of a public opinion poll.
random-digit dialing
a technique used by pollsters to place telephone calls randomly to both listed and unlisted numbers when conducting a survey
exit poll
public opinion surveys used by major media pollsters to predict electoral winners with speed and precision
political ideology
a coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and public purpose.
gender gap
a term that refers to the regular pattern by which women are more likely to support Democratic candidates.
political participation
all the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue
protest
a form of political participation designed to achieve policy change through dramatic and unconventional tactics
civil disobedience
a form of political participation that reflects a conscious decision to break a law believed to be immoral and to suffer the consequences
