Chapter 11 Gov

Describe random sampling.

Random sampling is a method of selection that gives potential voter or adult approximately the same chance of being selected.

Describe stratified sampling.

Stratified sampling is the most rigorous sampling technique and is based on census data that provide the number of residences in an area and their location. Researchers divide the population into several sampling regions and then randomly select subgroups to sample in proportion to the total national population.

Define political socialization.

The process that individuals acquire their belief and opinions.

Describe each of the following types of polls:

Traditional telephone polls A call is conducted through the use of landlines; In today's society, phone polls have been more difficult to conduct because of the growth of cell phones. Exit polls Polls conducted as voters leave selected polling places on Election Day. Tracking polls Continuous surveys that enable a campaign or news organization to chart a candidate's daily rise or fall in support. Internet polls Invented by John Zogby, Internet pollsters using scientific sampling strategies have had relatively effective records in predicting election outcomes and gauging opinions on numerous issues of importance to the American Public. Push polls Polls are taken for the purpose of providing information on an opponent that would lead respondents to vote against that candidate.

What is a sample

a subset of the population

Discuss how the Mass Media influences the formation of political opinions?

americans spend 35 hours+ on television or on media, MTV started coverage on presidency and changed numbers and turnouts of voters

What major polling event happened in 1948? why is it important, are there any other times this has happened?

miscalculations cause the gallup organization incorrectly to predict the outcomes of the election, thomas dewey would beat harry truman

After Walter lippmans book public opinion was published what improvements allowed survey data to play an important role in society?

some used scientific methods to measure opinions, polling became very big in everyday lives

why do government decision makers rely on public opinion polls?

they use them to see what the public opinion thinks about their decisions

What is a straw poll?

unscientific survey used to gauge public opinion on a variety of issues and policies

define public opinion

what the public thinks about a particular issue

Why do media outlets pay attention to Exit polls?

Because they predict outcomes of elections before state agencies tabulate the results

How was the American Public changed since John Jay wrote federalist No.2? why might this be important to politics

Everyone was from english heritage, now everyone is much diverse

What are the four major demographics pollsters often take into consideration?

Gender, Race and Ethnicity, Age, and Religion

Discuss how political knowledge influences the formation of political opinions.

Helps them form the best opinion to contribute change in the world of politics

What are the three principle decisions a pollster must make prior to polling the public?

Determining the content and phrasing of the questions being asked, selecting the sample, and how to go about contacting respondents.

Briefly describe the following shortcomings of polling.

Limited Respondent Options V.O. Key Jr. cautioned students of public opinion to take care that their questions adequately allowed respondents the appropriate range for which they could register their opinions. Lack of Information Public opinion polls may also be inaccurate when they attempt to gauge attitudes toward issues about which the public has little information. Difficulty Measuring Intensity Another shortcoming of polls concerns their inability to measure the intensity of feeling about particular issues. Lack of Interest in Political Issues People have difficulty forming opinions on topics that they are uninterested in or not informed about.

Describe the following two concerns pollsters must take into account when evaluating data from their polls.

Margin of Error A measure of the accuracy of a public opinion poll Sampling Error The accuracy of any poll depends on the quality of the sample that was drawn.

What is the purpose of the NES?

National Election Studies (NES) researches public opinion and measures the results of polls.