Pt 3: Chapter 6 Notes

Question 1

What is the traditional method of public opinion?

Answer 1

Election results

Question 2

What is the primary method of measuring public opinion?

Answer 2

Public opinion polls

Question 3

Estimation of population’s views

Answer 3

Samples

Question 4

Accuracy of a poll is expressed by what

Answer 4

sampling error

Question 5

What was the biggest error with the Courier Journal poll?

Answer 5

Dishonesty by respondents

Question 6

Opinions of citizens that are openly stated

Answer 6

Public opinion

Question 7

The process by which people acquire their political opinions, beliefs, and values

Answer 7

Political socialization

Question 8

Process is ____: political affiliations usually grow firmer with age

Answer 8

cumulative

Question 9

These entities are:

• peers
• media
• leaders
• events

Answer 9

Secondary political socialization agents

Question 10

Reference points by which individuals evaluate issues and developments

Answer 10

frames of reference

Question 11

Emotional loyalty to a political party; not formal membership

Answer 11

Party identification

Question 12

• A coherent set of political beliefs

Answer 12

Political ideology

Question 13

What are these examples of?

• economic liberals/conservatives
• social liberals/conservatives
• populists
• libertarians

Answer 13

Political ideology learnings

Question 14

How many Americans have a true political ideology?

Answer 14

Few

Question 15

What are these examples of?

• religion
• economic class
• region
• race and ethnicity
• gender
• generations and age

Answer 15

group orientations

Question 16

What is the traditional method of measuring public opinion?

Answer 16

election results

Question 17

What is the primary method of measuring public opinion?

Answer 17

public opinion polls

Question 18

Estimation of population’s views

Answer 18

samples

Question 19

Accuracy of a poll is expressed by what?

Answer 19

Sampling error

Question 20

What are some problems with polls?

Answer 20

• increasing refusal to participate in telephone polls
• polled individuals unfamiliar with issues
• dishonesty by respondents
• poorly worded questions and poor question order
• non-opinions

Question 21

Are there limits on public influence?

Answer 21

Yes, including:

- citizens lack of understanding of issues

Question 22

The greater the level of public involvement, the _____ likely officials will respond to public sentiment

Answer 22

More likely

Question 23

Leaders can influence public opinion through what?

Answer 23

Concerted effort

Question 24

T/F: On popular issues leaders dont really have much discretion

Answer 24

False. even on popular issues, leaders have some discretion