Chapter 8: Public Opinion

This type of bias occurs when individuals with certain characteristics are less likely to respond to surveys than others. a. Nonresponse b. Partisan c. Media d. Social

Correct Answer: a. Nonresponse

To communicate information about public opinion in broadly understandable terms, researchers and pollsters use aggregated statistical data such as _. (CHOOSE ALL THAT APPLY). a. percentages b. collectives c. fractions d. averages

Correct Answers: a. percentages c. fractions d. averages

In political science, which of the following is a definition of a sample? a. A small subset of individuals drawn from a population b. A small portion of food given to you at the grocery store c. A small group of political parties that have formed a coalition government

Correct Answer: a. A small subset of individuals drawn from a population

The people who have a formative influence on our political attitudes, values, beliefs, and identities are called ... a. Agents of socialization b. Family Influencers c. Delegates

Correct Answer: a. Agents of socialization

These are one's pre-existing attitudes, values, beliefs, and social identities that condition how one formulates opinions about public affairs. a. Political Predispositions b. Political Discourse c. Political Discussions d. Political Socialization

Correct Answer: a. Political Predispositions

What conditions do professional pollsters need to meet to accurately measure public opinion? (SELECT ALL ANSWER CHOICES THAT APPLY) a. Only select a sample that is likely to respond in an expected way b. Take a sample that is representative of the population from which it is drawn c. Ask questions in a way that accurately measures the opinions of a sample d. Include complicated questions to ensure that respondents are engaged in the survey e. Make sure the sample size is large enough to yield an acceptable margin of error

Correct Answers: b. Take a sample that is representative of the population from which it is drawn c. Ask questions in a way that accurately measures the opinions of a sample e. Make sure the sample size is large enough to yield an acceptable margin of error

Match the strategy to the guideline that will help you be a responsible consumer of polls - Consider the reputation and motives of the organization conducting the poll - Examine question wording - Check the target population and sampling method - Assess the sample size and margin of error - Compare across polls - Be realistic in your expectations - Sort the good polls from the bad but don't ignore them altogether. Even good polls have a margin of error. - Use poll aggregators - Adjust your interpretation on the population being closer to the minimum or maximum within the margin of error - Determine if the sample is appropriate for the target population - Look for question wording mistakes - Use common sense for polls commissioned by an interest group or political party

- Consider the reputation and motives of the organization conducting the poll --> Use common sense for polls commissioned by an interest group or political party - Examine question wording --> Look for question wording mistakes - Check the target population and sampling method --> Determine if the sample is appropriate for the target population - Assess the sample size and margin of error --> Adjust your interpretation on the population being closer to the minimum or maximum within the margin of error - Compare across polls --> Use poll aggregators - Be realistic in your expectations --> Sort the good polls from the bad but don't ignore them altogether. Even good polls have a margin of error.

Considering the laws of probability, how can researchers influence the margin of error? a. By altering the size of samples b. By choosing a specific population to draw samples from c. By steering polls away from controversial and sensitive topics d. By using non-probability based sampling methods

Correct Answer: a. By altering the size of samples

What is one way pollsters can approximate a representative sample? a. Make sure that it is demographically representative b. Carefully select individuals for the sample c. Ask every person in the population d. By only selecting individuals that will respond in the way that you expect

Correct Answer: a. Make sure that it is demographically representative

What is it called when the sequence of questions on a poll influences responses? a. ordering effects b. influence sequence c. response time

Correct Answer: a. ordering effects

These are the voting citizens to whom an elected representative is democratically accountable. a. Trustees b. Constituents c. Delegates d. Democratic

Correct Answer: b. Constituents

This terms refers to the process by which our environment leads us to develop attitudes, values, beliefs, and social identities that shape our orientation toward government and politics. a. Political Manipulation b. Political Socialization c. Political Discourse d. Political Discussion

Correct Answer: b. Political Socialization

What do public opinion researchers analyze to estimate the opinions of large populations? a. The demographics of the individuals of the population b. Polls conducted on small samples from those populations c. Social media activity of the selected population d. Polls distributed to most individuals from the population that is being analyzed

Correct Answer: b. Polls conducted on small samples from those populations

Political Knowledge Poll Question 6: Which of the following is correct? a. The government spends more on the military than healthcare b. The government spends more on healthcare than on the military

Correct Answer: b. The government spends more on healthcare than on the military

Political Knowledge Poll Question 5: Which of the following is correct a. Undocumented immigrants ARE eligible for food stamps b. Undocumented immigrants ARE NOT eligible for food stamps

Correct Answer: b. Undocumented immigrants ARE NOT eligible for food stamps

In this type of question, respondents are asked about more than one issue but are only allowed to give one answer. a. leading b. double-barreled c. multi-point

Correct Answer: b. double-barreled

Select the type of sample that proportionately reflects the relevant diversity of opinions in the population from which it is drawn. a. limited b. representative c. comparative d. population

Correct Answer: b. representative

The propensity to answer poll questions inaccurately to put oneself in the best light possible (especially on controversial or sensitive topics) is called which of the following? a. poll-level bias b. social desirability bias c. social desirability balance

Correct Answer: b. social desirability bias

According to the video, when does political socialization end? a. Once a person graduates college b. When they no longer live with their parents c. Never

Correct Answer: c. Never

What is the sampling method that involves taking a random selection of people from a defined population? a. Non-probability sampling b. Direct sampling c. Probability sampling d. Rational sampling

Correct Answer: c. Probability sampling

Which of the following is an aggregate measure of the beliefs, attitudes, judgments, and/or preferences of a population over matters of public concern? a. Public Discourse b. Polarization c. Public Opinion

Correct Answer: c. Public Opinion

This type of bias occurs when researchers fail to choose a representative sample of potential respondents. a. Media b. Partisan c. Selection d. Nonresponse

Correct Answer: c. Selection

This type of question is worded in a way that sways the respondent toward one side of an argument. a. manipulative b. focused c. leading

Correct Answer: c. leading

This model of representation states that the first duty of representatives is to follow the opinions of their constituents. a. Popular b. Congressional c. Trustee d. Delegate

Correct Answer: d. Delegate

What does it mean when the margin of error is high? a. The estimates based on samples are more precise b. The population is not specific enough to provide a meaningful sample c. The data is suitable to be included in an aggregate measure d. The estimates based on samples are less precise

Correct Answer: d. The estimates based on samples are less precise

Public opinion always refers to the opinions held by specific groups of people. The specific group in question is called a. a selection b. a collective c. an aggregate d. a population

Correct Answer: d. a population

Over the course of a lifetime, the factors that influence us become fewer in number and more limited in impact. What concept does this describe? a. bandwagon effect b. selection bias c. social desirability bias d. funnel of causality e. ordering effect

Correct Answer: d. funnel of causality

Poorly Worded Poll Question 1: "Do you agree or disagree with this statement? 'In a democracy, citizens have a duty to vote and a duty to always follow the law even when they think a law is unjust.'" a. Agree b. Disagree

Correct Answers: a. Agree b. Disagree

Which of the following are considered matters of public concern? (SELECT ALL ANSWERS THAT APPLY) a. Government b. Politics c. Public Policy

Correct Answers: a. Government b. Politics c. Public Policy

Political Knowledge Poll Question 1: Would you mind naming any of the three branches of government? (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY) a. Legislative b. Media c. Judicial d. Executive

Correct Answers: a. Legislative c. Judicial d. Executive

Poorly Worded Poll Question 3: "Does it seem possible or does it seem impossible to you that the Nazi extermination of the Jews never happened?" a. Possible b. Impossible

Correct Answers: a. Possible b. Impossible

What do proponents of the trustee model of representation claim to be benefits or characteristics of that approach to representation? (SELECT ALL ANSWER CHOICES THAT APPLY) a. Refine and improve the public views b. More likely to respect the rule of law c. Specialists in public affairs d. In a better position to make judgments about policies that justly promote the interests of the people e. Highly responsive to public opinion f. More than conveyor belts linking raw public opinion to government policymaking

Correct Answers: a. Refine and improve the public views b. More likely to respect the rule of law c. Specialists in public affairs d. In a better position to make judgments about policies that justly promote the interests of the people f. More than conveyor belts linking raw public opinion to government policymaking

Political Poll Question 2: What are the specific rights guaranteed by the First Amendment? (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY) a. Right to Petition b. Right to Assemble c. Freedom of the Press d. Freedom of Religion e. Freedom of Speech

Correct Answers: a. Right to Petition b. Right to Assemble c. Freedom of the Press d. Freedom of Religion e. Freedom of Speech

Poorly Worded Poll Question 2: "How bad do you think the North Korean system of government is?" a. Very bad b. Moderately bad c. Neither bad nor good d. Moderately good e. Very good

Correct Answers: a. Very bad b. Moderately bad c. Neither bad nor good d. Moderately good e. Very good

According to the video, which of the choices below are key factors that can influence the socialization process? (SELECT ALL ANSWER CHOICES THAT APPLY) a. Work place b. Education c. Media d. Religious Organizations e. Peers f. Technology https://youtu.be/yS0eJJGuQaw

Correct Answers: a. Work place b. Education c. Media d. Religious Organizations e. Peers

Information shortcuts that help people guess or infer what their opinion would be if they had time to become better informed are which of the following? (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY). a. heuristics b. pure information c. complications d. sometimes misleading

Correct Answers: a. heuristics d. sometimes misleading