American Government Chapter 6 Public Opinion

In a scientific poll, what sample size is generally sufficient for accurately measuring national public opinion?

1.000

An election poll of 1,000 people indicates that 49 percent of voters favor Candidate A, and 51 percent of voters favor Candidate B, with a 2 percent margin of error. Given this information, which of the following statements could be true? 45 percent of the population supports Candidate A and 55 percent supports Candidate B. 53 percent of the population supports Candidate A and 47 percent supports Candidate B. 50 percent of the population supports Candidate A and 50 percent supports Candidate B. 51 percent of the population supports Candidate A and 49 percent supports Candidate B.

50 percent of the population supports Candidate A and 50 percent supports Candidate B. 51 percent of the population supports Candidate A and 49 percent supports Candidate B.

When Americans with different income levels differ in policy preferences, which of the following statements are correct regarding actual policy outcomes? Actual policies reflect the preferences of the affluent. Actual policies show little relationship to the preferences of the affluent. Actual policies reflect the preferences of the poor and middle class. Actual policies show little relationship to the preferences of the poor and middle class.

Actual policies show little relationship to the preferences of the poor and middle class. Actual policies reflect the preferences of the affluent.

In the context of understanding public opinion, which of the following is the best definition of values?

Basic principles that shape a person's opinions about issues and events

Which of the following is correct regarding the effect of the marketplace of ideas on opinion formation? Competing forces try to persuade as many people as possible, and few people resist modification of their beliefs. Competing forces try to persuade as many people as possible, and most people resist modification of their beliefs. Free thought is encouraged, and most people resist modification of their beliefs. Free thought is encouraged, and few people resist modification of their beliefs.

Competing forces try to persuade as many people as possible, and few people resist modification of their beliefs.

Which statement best characterizes the partisan differences in public opinion? Democrat and Republican voters strongly disagree on a few issues. Democrat and Republican voters strongly disagree on almost all issues. Democrat and Republican voters do not disagree on many issues. Democrat and Republican voters strongly disagree on several issues.

Democrat and Republican voters strongly disagree on almost all issues.

Which of the following are examples of presidential attempts to lead public opinion? Donald Trump's use of Twitter to promote policy agenda and communicate his sentiments Bill Clinton's private meetings with Newt Gingrich George W. Bush's public relations program supporting the War on Terror Franklin Delano Roosevelt's "fireside chats"

Donald Trump's use of Twitter to promote policy agenda and communicate his sentiments Franklin Delano Roosevelt's "fireside chats" George W. Bush's public relations program supporting the War on Terror

Most people initially acquire their political orientation from -, while friends - important role in shaping opinion as one gets older.

Family play more

Match each political value to its definition: Government interference in individuals' lives should be kept to a minimum. Every citizen should have the opportunity to take part in the government process. All individuals should be allowed to seek personal and material success. equality of opportunity liberty democracy

Government interference in individuals' lives should be kept to a minimum. Correct label: liberty Every citizen should have the opportunity to take part in the government process. Correct label: democracy All individuals should be allowed to seek personal and material success. Correct label: equality of opportunity

Higher earners participate more. People of all incomes participate at about the same rate. contacting a member of Congress signing a petition attending a city council meeting attending a protest or march

Higher earners participate more. Correct label: contacting a member of Congress signing a petition attending a city council meeting People of all incomes participate at about the same rate. Correct label: attending a protest or march

Which of the following statements is correct?

Highly knowledgeable citizens tend to maintain beliefs most consistent with their interests.

The campaign to repeal Roe v. Wade is primarily led by which group?

Interest groups

Which of the following statements is correct? It is possible to estimate the country's opinion based on a small sample of 1,000 to 1,200 people. For a public-opinion survey to be accurate, it only needs to have more than 20 respondents. It is impossible to collect a random sample. Public-opinion surveys only tell you what the sample's opinions are, without providing any insight into the general population.

It is possible to estimate the country's opinion based on a small sample of 1,000 to 1,200 people.

Which statements are correct regarding political knowledge? Most voters are relatively informed about politics. Most voters are generally poorly informed about an issue that matters to them. Most voters are relatively informed about an issue that matters to them. Most voters are generally poorly informed about politics.

Most voters are relatively informed about an issue that matters to them. Most voters are generally poorly informed about politics.

Which of the following statements are accurate regarding economic self-interest and voting? Most voters tend to be concerned about their own economic self-interest. Most voters accurately translate self-interest into appropriate policy preferences. Few voters accurately translate self-interest into appropriate policy preferences. Few voters are concerned about their own economic self-interest.

Most voters tend to be concerned about their own economic self-interest. Few voters accurately translate self-interest into appropriate policy preferences.

Which of the following statements are correct regarding the effect of party polarization on public opinion? Party polarization decreases the impact of other information on public opinion. People tend to ignore the parties more now than they used to, since they are so extreme. Party endorsements have a larger impact on opinion formation than it used to. The political parties are now sending inconsistent policy cues more than they used to.

Party endorsements have a larger impact on opinion formation than it used to. Party polarization decreases the impact of other information on public opinion.

Which of the following are results of the low levels of political knowledge among many Americans? People are not capable of making informed decisions. Political opinion can be manipulated by political elites. People may support policies against their own self-interest. Public opinion is irrational and volatile.

Political opinion can be manipulated by political elites. People may support policies against their own self-interest.

Select the following statements that are true regarding the role education plays in political socialization. The more education one has, the more likely one is to be involved in politics. The more education one has, the more ideologically conservative one becomes. The more education one has, the more tolerant of racial minorities one is.

The more education one has, the more likely one is to be involved in politics. The more education one has, the more tolerant of racial minorities one is.

Which of the following are reasons that policy change may shape public opinion? The policy may expose the public to a new idea. The policy may give the public new information. A policy might act as a signal of an ethical or moral view.

The policy may expose the public to a new idea. The policy may give the public new information. A policy might act as a signal of an ethical or moral view.

Which of the following statements are correct regarding the media and public opinion? The presentation of corruption in government has undermined public trust. The media has little effect on public opinion. The way the media present a story can influence public opinion.

The presentation of corruption in government has undermined public trust. . The way the media present a story can influence public opinion.

Studies have shown that voters with higher income levels and higher levels of education wield more influence over policy makers. What are some of the reasons this is the case? They are less likely to vote. They are more likely to give politicians bribes. They are more likely to contribute money to campaigns. They vote at higher rates.

They are more likely to contribute money to campaigns. They vote at higher rates.

When elected officials pursue policies that are not in line with centrist opinion, what is often the cause? They assumed voters wouldn't know the difference. They are forced to vote a certain way by their party. They do not know what the prevailing centrist opinion is. They are prioritizing the views of a loyal voting bloc over others.

They are prioritizing the views of a loyal voting bloc over others.

What is true regarding socialization, the attitudes about political issues, and underlying political values?

Underlying values tend to shape specific attitudes. Underlying values are formed through political socialization.

In the "receive-accept-sample" model of public opinion, what happens when you hear a media report that goes against your beliefs about tax cuts? You do not receive the message and thus cannot accept it. You receive the message, but do not accept it. You accept the message and sample from it when asked your opinion on tax cuts. You accept the message, but do not sample from it when asked for your opinion on tax cuts.

You receive the message, but do not accept it.

Which of the following elements do pollsters have to consider before conducting a poll that will forecast the election? wording of survey questions ability to randomly select respondents a large sample ensuring that respondents make socially desirable answers

a large sample ability to randomly select respondents wording of survey questions

When a political campaign relies on social media, consumer purchasing patterns, and even Netflix cues to complement public-opinion polls, what is it called? bandwagoning data mining bootstrap analysis cluster sampling

data mining

Given the importance of political environment in shaping political views, which policy area below might someone feel is more important if they grew up during the war on terror? access to health care domestic security income inequality environmental protection

domestic security

The government can easily and substantially influence public opinion. True False

false

A mid-2017 survey showed that 13 percent more men than women believed Donald Trump was doing a good job as president. This is evidence of what is known in political science as the ______ gap.

gender

Individuals who have - educational attainment, - income, and - members of civic organizations are most likely to be politically knowledgeable.

higher higher are

By using -, average citizens form opinions that are - consistent with their underlying preferences.

informational shortcuts often

Choose all of the following that can influence individuals who are trying to form opinions about a particular policy issue.

interest groups the media the government

Pollsters are using online surveys, which are - costly and - time-consuming than telephone surveys. However, online surveys are - likely to collect a random sample than telephone surveys.

less less less

States with more conservative opinions tend to adopt - conservative laws, and states with more - public opinion adopt more liberal policies.

more Liberal

Upper-bracket taxpayers, who are typically - knowledgeable than lower-bracket taxpayers, are - likely to have government policy reflect their economic interests.

more more likely

Which of the following factors influence Americans' beliefs and opinions? religion marital status income race gender age geographic region hair color

religion income race gender geographic region age

Government policy - to public opinion; public opinion - to government policy.

responds responds

How do most Americans get their political news?

skimming headlines on the internet

Which of the following is the best definition of political socialization? the process through which political beliefs and values are formed the ideas and beliefs through which people understand and interpret politics the basic principles of a persons' political beliefs the attitudes people have about political issues

the process through which political beliefs and values are formed

What is the goal of a push poll? to correct an error in a simple random sample that did not have enough respondents in it to collect as much public-opinion data as quickly as possible to shape the respondent's perception of the candidate or issue in question to distinguish between people giving true responses and socially desirable responses

to shape the respondent's perception of the candidate or issue in question