Exam 6: Public Opinion

A) the bias in surveys that comes from the repeated failure of pollsters to interview respondents who come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
B) the strong desire that people have to express their opinions to survey researchers.
C) the fact that respondents report what they expect the interviewer wishes to hear or whatever they think is socially acceptable rather than what they actually believe or know to be true.
D) the impression conveyed by polls that something is important to the public when actually it is not.
E) the tendency for people to shift their electoral support to the candidate whom public opinion polls report as the front-runner.

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A) values are conservative while attitudes are liberal.
B) values are liberal while attitudes are conservative.
C) values are held for a short term while attitudes are held for a long term.
D) values are basic principles while attitudes are specific preferences.
E) values are specific preferences while attitudes are basic principles.

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A) the most reliable strategy for a politician to take in winning reelection is to adopt policies that are consistent with the preferences of ideologically extreme voters.
B) the most reliable strategy for a politician to take in winning reelection is to adopt policies that are consistent with the preferences of centrist voters.
C) the average American voter is uninformed about the details of most government policies.
D) the average American voter is well informed about the details of most government policies.
E) government policy should always reflect what a majority of Americans want.

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A) anarchy.
B) democracy.
C) liberty.
D) equality.
E) socialism.

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A) public opinion.
B) political ideology.
C) political socialization.
D) political efficacy.
E) political sophistication.

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A) has eliminated misinformation in public opinion.
B) has destroyed the "filter bubbles" that many people used to be trapped inside.
C) has decreased the gap between the haves and the have-nots in terms of political knowledge.
D) has increased the gap between the haves and the have-nots in terms of political knowledge.
E) has not had any effect on the gap between the haves and the have-nots in terms of political knowledge.

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A) their families.
B) the region of the country they inhabit.
C) their education.
D) the media they consume.
E) their occupation.

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A) Family, membership in social groups, and education are all important agencies of socialization.
B) People's preference for a political party is primarily acquired through their family.
C) An individual's religion has no impact on their political views.
D) Attending college makes people more likely to participate in politics.
E) Both involuntary and voluntary social groups have an impact on their members' political views.

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A) Given constant exposure to other people's ideas, it is almost impossible for one not to modify one's own viewpoints.
B) Moderate ideas usually have the best financial backing and the greatest publicity.
C) The most popular ideas are usually the most moderate ones.
D) Those who shop in the marketplace of ideas typically start with moderate viewpoints.
E) Moderate ideas are always closest to the truth and, therefore, are most successful in the marketplace of ideas.

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A) the bellwether effect.
B) the illusion of saliency.
C) the bandwagon effect.
D) the "bounce" effect.
E) push polling.

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A) liberals; conservatives
B) conservatives; liberals
C) libertarians; conservatives
D) liberals; libertarians
E) libertarians; liberals

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A) Sampling errors are typically too low when other techniques are used.
B) Sampling errors are typically too high when other techniques are used.
C) There is not a complete list of all Americans that can be used to identify the population.
D) It is the only method that allows for push polling.
E) It is the only method that generates high levels of measurement error.

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A) liberty
B) democracy
C) equality
D) justice
E) patriotism

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A) many Americans do not value equality.
B) different policy preferences can be based on different practical interpretations of the same principle.
C) Americans are forever separated by racial differences.
D) Americans are very politically active.
E) the policy is at odds with fundamental American values.

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A) polling services like Harris and Gallup attempting to sell their polling data to major news media organizations at higher prices during election seasons.
B) the system of calling people during dinner and evening hours to ensure that as many people as possible will be home.
C) the procedure of asking loaded questions in order to subtly shape the respondent's opinion.
D) the effect of polls having to push politicians into adopting policy proposals they would not otherwise adopt.
E) the system of repeatedly calling people in the sampling frame until they respond to the survey.

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A) racial inequalities
B) geographic differences
C) differences between the rich and poor
D) conflicts between central and local governments
E) conflicts between members of different racial groups

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