Unit 4.4-4.6 Flashcards
[4.4] formative age
Young adulthood, between ages 18 and 24, when many people form long-lasting political attitudes.
ex. Millennials, many of whom came of age during the Great Recession that began in 2008, show more conservative spending habits than members of older generation- except for the Silent Generation, which also came of age during a time of economic hardship.
[4.4] party realignment
A sharp change in the issues or voting blocs that a party represents.
ex. The Great Depression ushered in an era of Democratic rule and led African American voters to abandon the Republican Party in its favor.
[4.4] period effects
Major events and social trend that affect the political attitudes of the entire population
ex. Opinions around homosexuality and same-sex marriage became more favorable across all generations in the last 30 years.
[4.5] public opinion
How people feel about issues, candidates, and public officials. Polls are a common way to measure public opinion.
[4.5] population
A group of people that a researcher wants to study. This might be a large group, such as all voting-age citizens in the United States, or a smaller group like members of a club or church.
[4.5] sample
The group of people a researcher surveys to gauge the whole population’s opinion. Researchers study sample because it’s impossible to interview everyone in a population.
[4.5] sample technique
The process by which pollsters select respondents to a survey or the sample population for a poll.
[4.5] sampling error
The predicted difference between the average opinion expressed by survey respondents and the average opinion in the population; also called the margin of error. As the sample size increases, the margin or error decreases.
[4.5] random sample
A random selection from a population, random sampling techniques ensures an equal probability of individuals being selected for a survey or poll.
[4.5] representative sample
A relatively small number of respondents who accurately reflect the variety of opinions, demographics, etc. in the broader population. In political science, a representative sample is usually between 400 and 2,000 respondents.
[4.5] benchmark polls
Polls conducted by a campaign as a race for office begins. These polls provide the campaign with a basis for comparison for later polls, so that the candidate can see if their likelihood of winning the office is increasing or decreasing.
[4.5] opinion polls
A poll taken by sampling a small section of the public in an effort to predict election results or to estimate public attitudes on issues.
[4.5] tracking polls
A survey performed repeatedly with the same group of people to check and measure changes of opinion.
[4.5] entrance polls
Performed on Election Day, these surveys are taken as voters enter their voting location.
[4.5] exit polls
Performed on Election Day, these surveys are taken as voters exit their voting location. Media outlets often rely on exit polls to determine election results, even before the ballots have been counted.
