Chapter 5 – Public Opinion – Flashcards
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agents of socialization
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social institutions, including families and schools, that help to shape individuals' basic politiccal beliefs and values
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attitude (or opinion)
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a specific preference on a particular issue
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bandwagon effect
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a shift in electoral support to the candidate whome public opinion polls report as the front-runner
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conservative
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today this term refers to those who generally support the social and economic status quo and are suspicious of efforts to introduce new political formulae and economic arrangements; conservatives believe that a large and powerful government poses a threat to citizens' freedom
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democracy
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a system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials
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equality of opportunity
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a widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential
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gender gap
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a distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the differences in views between women and men
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liberal
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today this term refers to those who generally support social and political reform; governmental intervention in the economy and more economic equality; the expansion of federal social services; and greater concern for consumers and the environment
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liberty
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freedom from governmental control
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market place of ideas
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the public forum in which beliefs and ideas are exchanged and complete
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political ideology
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a cohesive set of beliefs that forms a general about the role of government
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political socialization
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the induction of individuals into the political culture; learning the underlying beliefs and values on which the political system is based
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public opinion
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citizens' attitudes about political issues, leaders, institutions, and events
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public-opinion polls
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scientific instruments for measuring public opinion
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push polling
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a polling technique in which the questions are designed to shape the respondent's opinion
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random digit dialing
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a polling method in which respondents are selected at random from a list of 10-digit telephone numbers, with every effort made to avoid bias in the construction of the sample
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sample
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a small group selected by researchers to represent the most important characteristics of an entire population
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sampling error (or margin of error)
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polling error that arises based on the small size of the sample
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selection bias (surveys)
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polling error that arises when the sample is not representative of the population being studied which creates errors in overrepresenting or underrepresenting some opinions
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simple random sample (or probability sample)
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a method used by pollsters to select a representative sample in which every individual in the population has an equal probability of being selected as a respondent
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social desirability effect
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the effect that results when respondents in a survey report what they expect the interviewer wishes to hear rather than what they believe
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values (or beliefs)
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basic principles that shape a person's opinions about political issues and events
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The term public opinion is used to describe ____________________.
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the beliefs and attitudes that people have about issues.
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Variables such as income, education, race, gender, and ethnicity _________________________.
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help explain differences of political opinion in America.
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Today, the term ________________ refers to an ideology that supports social and political reform, greater economic equality, and expansion of government social services.
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liberalism
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The process by which Americans learn political beliefs and values is called ______________.
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political socialization
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Which of the following is not an agent of socialization? a. political conditions b. political attitudes c. social groups d. the family e. education
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b. political attitudes
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When men and women respond differently to issues of public policy, this difference is an example of __________________.
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the gender gap
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The fact that the public is inattentive to politics and must frequently rely on informational shortcuts has what effect on American democracy?
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weakens it by making it easier for various institutions and political actors to manipulate the political process
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What is the most important external influences on how political opinions are formed in the marketplace of ideas?
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the government, private groups, and the news media
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What is the term used in public-opinion polling to denote the small group representing the opinions of the whole population?
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sample
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A push poll is a poll in which ___________________.
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the questions are designed to shape the respondent's opinion rather than measure the respondent's opinion.
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A familiar polling problem is the "bandwagon effect," which occurs when ____________.
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polling results influence people to support the candidate who is trailing in a campaign.
