Public Opinion

Question 1

public opinion

Answer 1

opinions held by private citizens which governments find prudent to heed.

Question 2

self-interest

foundations of preferences

Answer 2

individuals want government to take actions that will benefit them economically or improve their overall wellbeing

Question 3

values

foundations of preferences

Answer 3

individuals have values about what is right or wrong, and these values affect their preferences about governmental policies

Question 4

socialization

foundations of preferences

Answer 4

individuals learn opinions and attitudes from their family, friends, teachers and religious leaders, ansd others in their social groups and networks

Question 5

political ideology

foundations of preferences

Answer 5

most Americans describe themselves as conservative or liberal. these political ideologies include beliefs about the role of government, public policies, and which groups in society should properly exercise power. your lens, or the way you see the world.

Question 6

identity politics

foundations of preferences

Answer 6

individuals identify with groups- including racial, religous, and gender groups. policies that are beneficial to the group as a whole are viewed as good, while those harmful to the group are viewed as bad.

Question 7

socialization

Answer 7

process in which infividuals take on their communities’ perspectives and preferences through social interactions.

Question 8

liberal

Answer 8

believes that the government should play an active role in supporting social and political change and generally supports a strong role for the government in the economy, the provision of social services, and the protection of civil rights.

Question 9

conservative

Answer 9

believes that social institutions (such as churches and corporations) and the free market solve problems better than governments do, that a large and powerful government poses a threat to citizens’ freedom, and that the appropriate role of government is to uphold “traditional” values

Question 10

gender gap

voting

Answer 10

a distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the difference in views between men and women, emerged in the 1980s

Question 11

2 ways widespread inattention to politics weakens american democracy:

Answer 11

1. those who lack political information do not know where their interests lie, thus not effectively defending them.
2. the large number of politically ignorant people makes the political process more easily manipulated

Question 12

government’s influence on public opinion

Answer 12

political leaders try to present their initiatives and accomplishments in a positive light to generate positive media coverage

Question 13

private groups’ influence on public opinion

Answer 13

interest groups work to draw attention to issues and ideas that will further their cause

Question 14

the media’s influence on public opinion

Answer 14

mass media is american’s main source of information about the government and politics. they influence information by bringing attention to particular issues, priming the public to take a certain view of a political actor, and framing issues and events in a certain way

Question 15

equal time rule

Answer 15

FCC requirement that broadcasters provide candidates for the same political office an equal opportunity to communicate their messages to the public

Question 16

right of rebuttal

Answer 16

FCC requirement that broadcasters give individuals the opportunity to respond to the airings of personal attacks on them

Question 17

agenda-setting effect

Answer 17

the power of media to focus public attention on particular issues

Question 18

priming

Answer 18

the use of media coverage to make the public take a particular view of an event or a public figure

Question 19

framing

Answer 19

the influence of media over how events and issues are interpreted; the way an issue is described

Question 20

how can we measure public opinion?

Answer 20

through a survey or poll with an SRS

Question 21

what are some potential issues with polls?

Answer 21

1. nonresponse bias
2. non-attitudes
3. Margin of Error/ Sampling Error
4. yes/no answers limit nuance
5. social desirability
6. priming

Question 22

non-attitudes

Answer 22

people with no real opinion towards an issue might just guess, making the data inaccurate

Question 23

Margin Of Error

Answer 23

aka sampling error, the difference between sample value and actual value

Question 24

social desirability

Answer 24

depending on the surveyor, people will give different answers depending on what they think the “right” answer is

Question 25

Family

political socialization

Question 26

Education

political socialization

Question 27

Peers and Group Influence

political socialization

Question 28

Opinion Leaders

political socialization

Question 29

generational / cohort effect

political socialization

Question 30

other factors that impact public opinion

Answer 30

1. gender
2. partisanship
3. polarization