Chapter 8 answers final Flashcards
Why is public opinion difficult to define?
Because it includes the views of many people on many issues
schools influence a child’s political development by teaching which of the following
American Values
which form of mass media is used most widely
television
which is the best way to measure public opinion
opinion polls
which explains a problem with the sample of a straw poll
It is not random
which are difficult for an opinion poll to measure
intensity, stability, and relevance
which usually provides political news in greater detail than other forms of media?
newspaper
How do the mass media influence politics?
by helping to shape the public agenda
Why has radio remained popular despite the invention of television
radio can be used anywhere
How does the media help to shape the public agenda
by focusing public attention on particular issues
Which of the following most accurately describes the term Public opinion
the attitude of many people regarding government and political matters
How do schools influence the political development of children?
They teach about the importance of government and its leaders
Which of the following is true of opinion leaders?
They have a strong influence on others
Why does a peer group often have a strong influence on a person’s opinion?
because group members trust one another
How did the great depression change many people’s views about government?
They expected the national government to become more involved in the economy
What is a winning party saying when it claims to have a mandate from voters
that it has approval to carry out its campaign promises
which is a type of poll that asks a question of a large number of people who were not identified in a scientific way?
straw poll
which best describes a scientific poll?
Its sample accurately reflects the universe
which best describes the universe in a scientific poll?
the whole group that the poll wants to measure
In the polling process what does the pollster do after constructing a sample?
prepares well-written questions
which describes a quota sample used in the polling process?
the sample has the same percentage of males and females as the universe
Which of the following is a concern of polls conducted by in-person interviews
The interviewer could influence the answers
which form of mass media has suffered a sharp decline in popularity in recent years?
newspapers
President FDR was the first president to make good use of which form of mass media?
radio
How did the watergate scandal and the resignation of president Nixon in 1974 affect public opinion?
many people distrusted the government
why is it difficult to get a good idea of public opinion from interest groups?
It is hard to tell how many people belong to an interest group
an example of public opinion would include the views people have about the
political parties
children first begin to learn about politics and current events from
their family
why are the media not a good way of measuring public opinion?
The media often reflect only the views of a vocal minority
the failed literary digest poll of 1936 did not
correctly reflect the universe to be measured
any means of communication
medium
the instructions of a constituency gives its elected officials
mandate
in polling, a representative slice of the whole population
sample
short, sharply focused news report
sound bite q
people with whom one regularly associates
peer group
often a writer, broadcaster, or important business person
opinion leader
private organization that shapes public policy
interest group
events and issues that concern the public at large
public affairs
the societal problems a nation’s leaders and the public agree need attention
public agenda
means of communication that reach large audiences at the same time
mass media
