Exam 2 Flashcards
Study
What factors shape Americans’ media choices?
- Psychological Forces (personal beliefs, likes, dislikes shape choices)
- Social Forces (The thoughts and expectations of others)
What is Mobilization?
- Rosenstone & Hansen: The process by which candidates/parties/activists/groups “Induce other people to participate.
- Direct Mobilization = Contact directly from the campaign
- Indirect Mobilization = Contract through surrogates (The media or endorsers
What Types of candidates have Americans become more open to overtime?
- Willingness to Support Hispanic Candidates
- Increasing acceptance Catholic and Jewish Candidates
- Increasing support for Gay & Lesbian Candidates
- Increasing support for Female Candidates
Has Americans’ political knowledge changed over the last 80 years? Why has that change or lack of change resulted?
- Americans are no more or less informed over this time period
Why?
- Lower Quality news / so many more entertainment options out there
- Difficult for societies to raise knowledge levels.
What political factors shape mobilization?
- Issues salient to many need to stay at the top of the agenda
- Outcomes must hang in the balance
- Decisions must be pending
Based on Carpini and Keeter’s research, What do Americans typically know more about in their political knowledge?
- Americans perform best on questions about institutions processes:
- Rudimentary facts of how government works are known
- Less visible part of Government = less knowledge
How has Confidence and Trust in the media changed over time?
- 50 years ago: The majority of Americans felt that they had a great deal or fair amount of trust/ confidence in the media
- Today: the majority of Americans have a fair amount of trust/confidence or none at all (which is the highest)
What are the personal and political characteristics that are associated with more knowledge
Personal:
- Education
- Age
- Income
Political:
- Following politics
- Political Efficacy
- Discussing politics
- Using newspaper news.
Why might Americans be more open to a diverse set of candidates?
Numbers can Shift:
- Right time
- Right issues for citizens to mobilize around
- Right candidate
Successful examples can work to overcome hesitance further
What are some solutions to the gender gap in elected officials?
- An Encouraging political environment
- An encouraging personal environment (financial & household security)
- Credentials
- Experience
- Self-motivation
What variables might be keeping more women from running for office
Gender Stereotypes / Discrimination / Incumbency / Party Support
Poll data:
- Family Responsibilities, sexual harassment, women having more to prove than men, lack of encouragement
Socialization (political upbringing) / Recruitment / Self - Perception
- Willingness to engage in campaign activities
- Fear that campaigning will affect their lives (loss of privacy)
What types of candidates are Americans less willing to accept or support
- Less acceptance of Mormon Candidates
- Less Acceptance of Muslim Candidates
- Less Acceptance for Atheist Candidates
What strategies are used by campaigns when targeting different groups of voters
- “Opposing” group - No contact
- “Undecided” groups - persuasive messages
“Support” group - Those who always vote are asked to volunteer/ $$$; those who sometimes vote get the “go out and vote! messages; those who never vote to get registered and early vote messages.
What are the system-wide forces that condition voter turnout?
- Confidence in overall government
- Strength of party identification
- Events in the political and social system
- Whose on the ballot
How do Candidates and campaigns mobilize voters?
- Door to Door
- Through the mail
- Events
- Through media
- Via the Internet
- Over the Phone
