Chapter 7: Public Opinion and Political Socialization

Question 0

PUBLIC OPINION

Answer 0

The aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs shared by some portion of the adult population. There is no one public opinion, because there are many different “publics.”

Question 1

WATERGATE BREAK-IN

Answer 1

The 1972 illegal entry into the Democratic National Committee offices by participants in Richard Nixon’s reelection campaign.

Question 2

CONSENSUS

Answer 2

General agreement among the citizenry on an issue.

Question 3

DIVISIVE OPINION

Answer 3

Public opinion that is polarized between two quite different positions.

Question 4

INTENSITY

Answer 4

The strength of a position for or against a public policy or an issue. Intensity is often critical in generating public action; an intense minority can often win on an issue of public policy over a less intense majority.

Question 5

FLUIDITY

Answer 5

The extent in which public opinion changes over time.

Question 6

STABILITY

Answer 6

The extent to which public opinion remains constant over a period of time.

Question 7

RELEVANCE

Answer 7

The extent to which an issue is of concern at a particular time. Issues become relevant when the public views them as pressing or of direct concern to daily life.

Question 8

OPINION POLL

Answer 8

A method of systematically questioning a small, selected sample of respondents who are deemed representative of the total population. Opinion polls are widely used by government, business, university scholars, political candidates, and voluntary groups to provide reasonably accurate data on public attitudes, beliefs, expectations, and behavior.

Question 9

SAMPLING ERROR

Answer 9

The difference between a sample’s results and the true result if the entire population had been interviewed.

Question 10

POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION

Answer 10

The process by which people acquire political beliefs and attitudes.

Question 11

PEER GROUPS

Answer 11

A group consisting of members sharing common relevant social characteristics. These groups play an important part in the socialization process, helping to shape attitudes and beliefs.

Question 12

GENERALIZATION EFFECT

Answer 12

A long-lasting effect of events of a particular time period on the political opinions or preferences of those who came of political age at the time.

Question 13

OPINION LEADER

Answer 13

One who is able to influence the opinions of others because of position, expertise, or personality. Such leaders help to shape public opinion.

Question 14

MEDIA

Answer 14

The technical means of communication with mass audiences.

Question 15

GENDER GAP

Answer 15

A term most often used to describe the difference between the percentage of votes a candidate receives from women and the percentage of votes the candidate receives from men. The term came into use after the 1980 presidential elections.

Question 16

POLITICAL TRUST

Answer 16

The degree to which individuals express trust in the government and political institutions, usually measured through a specific series of survey questions.

Question 17

IDEOLOGUE

Answer 17

An individual whose political opinions are carefully thought out and relatively consistent with one another. Ideologues are often described as having a comprehensive world view.