Chap. 5 pre/post test – Flashcards
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Normally, samples of how many people are considered sufficient for accurately measuring public opinion through the use of surveys?
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1,000
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Studies show that even individuals with low levels of political knowledge are able to make relatively informed political choices by relying on
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voter cues
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The bandwagon effect occurs when
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polling results themselves influence people to support the probable victor
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the practice of push pulling involves
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asking loaded questions to subtly shape the respondent's opinion
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The processes through which underlying political beliefs and values are formed are collectively called
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political socialization
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The set of underlying orientations, ideas, and beliefs through which individuals come to understand and interpret politics is called
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political idealogy
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The social desirability effect can damage the accuracy of a poll by respondents
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causing respondents to say what they think the interviewer wants to hear
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The term used to denote the beliefs that people have about political issues, events, institutions, and personalities is
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public opinion
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What is the so-called gender gap?
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political and voting differences between men and women
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What is wrong with the following poll question: "Do you think it was appropriate for President Bush to lie so that he could start a war with Iraq?"
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push polling
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What was the chief problem with the Gallup preelection polls that predicted a very close race between presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Barack Obama in the 2012 election?
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selection bias
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when using a simple random sample
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every individual in a population has an equal probability of being selected as a respondent
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Which group is the most influential agent of socialization in early childhood?
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family
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Which kind of polling error arises when a sample of public opinion overrepresents or underrepresents some opinions?
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selection bias
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Which of the following agents of socialization provides most people with their initial orientation to politics?
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family
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Which of the following best describes political knowledge in the United States?
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the average American exhibits relatively low political knowledge
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Which of the following is not a core U.S. value?
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big government
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Which of the following statements about education as an agent of political socialization is accurate?
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college graduates are more likely than other Americans to be associated with greater involvements in politics
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Which of the following statements about how the government and media mold public opinion is accurate?
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President Obama's White House has been unique in the high level to which it has used social media to shape public opinion
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Which of the following would be the most important factor in determining the reliability of a poll?
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the size of the sample
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A key requirement of an effective ____ is that it is representative.
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public-opinion sample
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A push poll might include a question with the following wording:
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Do you think it was appropriate for President Bush to lie to start a war with Iraq?
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As opposed to a value or belief, an attitude represents
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a person's specific preference on a particular issue
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Big government is ____________ considered a core U.S. value.
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not
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Equality of opportunity is a
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basic political value held by most Americans
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How did the media affect the Bush Administration's decision to go to war in Iraq in 2003?
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It helped to increase the public popularity of the preparations for war
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If you prefer smaller government, you are probably a
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conservative
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In contemporary politics being liberal has come to imply supporting
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social reform
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Political and voting differences between men and women are known as the ____ gap.
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gender
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Political socialization is the process through which
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political beliefs and values are formed
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Selection bias occurs when a sample ____ some opinions.
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overrepresents or underrepresents
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The bandwagon effect has been particularly problematic in
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the presidential nomination process
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The most important agent of socialization early in life is
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family
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The size of the overall population under study is ____ in determining the reliability of a poll.
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not important
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Until recently, the classification of "moderate" would have applied to
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most americans
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What argument does Nicholas Carr make in his best-selling book on the Internet's effect on political knowledge and participation?
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The internet reduces depth of thought and analysis regarding political knowledge
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What is the state of political knowledge among Americans?
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low
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What kinds of questions are particularly problematic in relation to the social desirability effect?
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questions about race or gender
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When a pollster asks a loaded question to shape a respondent's opinion, it is known as a
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push poll
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Which of the following best describes the characteristics of a "scientific" poll?
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representatives sample from a sufficiently large population with no selection bias
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Which of the following is one of the two major ways that low levels of political knowledge can shape American democracy?
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Political power can more easily be manipulated by political elites, the media, and wealthy special interests.
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Which of the following is true of political polarization in the United States?
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Party polarization may actually reduce levels of political knowledge
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Which of the following is true of the effect of political party membership or loyalty on political orientation?
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Partisans tend to rely on party leaders and the media for cues on the appropriate positions to take on major political issues.
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Which of the following views would a conservative be more likely to hold than a liberal?
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concern about law and order
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