Chapter 6 Public Opinion

Question 1

Public Opinion

Answer 1

Citizens views on politics and government actions

Question 2

Latent opinion

Answer 2

An opinion formed on the spot, when it is needed (as distinct from a deeply held opinion that is stable over time).

Question 3

Considerations

Answer 3

the many pieces of info a person uses to form an opinion.

Question 4

Political Socialization

Answer 4

The process by which an individual’s political opinions are shaped by other people and the surrounding culture.

Question 5

Mass survey

Answer 5

A way to measure public opinion by interviewing a large sample of the population

Question 6

Population

Answer 6

The group of people whom a researcher or pollster wants to study such as evangelicals, senior citizens, or americans

Question 7

sampling error (margin of error)

Answer 7

predicted difference between the average opinion expressed by survey respondents and the average opinion in the population.

Question 8

sample

Answer 8

Within a population, the group of people surveyed in order to gauge the whole population’s opinion. Researchers use samples because it would be impossible to interview the entire population.

Question 9

Ideological polarization

Answer 9

The effect of public opinion when many citizens move away from moderate positions and toward either end of the political spectrum, identifying themselves as either liberals or conservatives

Question 10

Policy mood

Answer 10

the level of public support for expanding the government’s role in society; whether the public wants government action on a specific issue.

Question 11

Mass media

Answer 11

sources that provide info to the average citizens such as newspapers, tv networks, radio stations, and websites.

Question 12

Federal communication commission (FCC)

Answer 12

a government agency created in 1934 to regulate american radio stations and later expanded to regulate tv, wireless communications technologies, and other broadcast media.

Question 13

Broadcast media

Answer 13

communications technologies such as tv and radio, that transmits info over airwaves.

Question 14

equal time provision

Answer 14

an FCC regulation requiring broadcast media to provide equal air time on any non-news programming to all candidates running for office.

Question 15

Media conglomerates

Answer 15

companies that control a large number of media sources across several types of media outlets

Question 16

Media effects

Answer 16

the influence of media coverage on average citizens’ opinions and actions

Question 17

hostile media

Answer 17

the tendency of people to see neutral media coverage of an event as biased against their point of view.