Question 1

Which of the following is true of the relationship between public opinion and shifts in major government policies?

Accepted Answer

A) On high-profile issues particularly,public opinion tends to affect policy to a greater degree than policymakers' agendas affect public opinion. 
B) Leaders' opinions ultimately affect most policy issues more than the larger public opinion. 
C) Linguist Noam Chomsky claimed that democracy consistently preserved the will of the people over the will of elite interests. 
D) Analysts have found a pattern consistent with the claim that "public opinion has little influence over policy." 
E) All these answers are correct. 
A) On high-profile issues particularly,public opinion tends to affect policy to a greater degree than policymakers' agendas affect public opinion. 
B) Leaders' opinions ultimately affect most policy issues more than the larger public opinion. 
C) Linguist Noam Chomsky claimed that democracy consistently preserved the will of the people over the will of elite interests. 
D) Analysts have found a pattern consistent with the claim that "public opinion has little influence over policy." 
E) All these answers are correct. A

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a primary socializing agent?

Accepted Answer

A) peers 
B) school 
C) church 
D) family 
E) None of these are primary socializing agents. 
A) peers 
B) school 
C) church 
D) family 
E) None of these are primary socializing agents. A

Question 3

Libertarians are opposed to governmental intervention

Accepted Answer

A) in both the economic and social spheres. 
B) in the economic but not the social sphere. 
C) in the social sphere,but not the economic sphere. 
D) in neither the social nor the economic spheres. 
E) only with regard to affirmative action. 
A) in both the economic and social spheres. 
B) in the economic but not the social sphere. 
C) in the social sphere,but not the economic sphere. 
D) in neither the social nor the economic spheres. 
E) only with regard to affirmative action. A

Question 4

A properly drawn sample of one thousand individuals has a sampling error of roughly plus or minus ________ percent.

Accepted Answer

A) 5 
B) 3 
C) 1 
D) 8 
E) 10 
A) 5 
B) 3 
C) 1 
D) 8 
E) 10

Question 5

Which of the following is true of letter writers and demonstrators?

Accepted Answer

A) They tend to be individuals who have participated in violent or physical expressions of political opinion. 
B) They tend to espouse a centrist ideological leaning. 
C) They tend to have a greater effect on policymakers than the public opinion polls of the general population. 
D) Roughly 10 percent of Americans participate in a mass demonstration or write a letter to the editor each year. 
E) Their opinions tend to be more extreme than those of the population as whole. 
A) They tend to be individuals who have participated in violent or physical expressions of political opinion. 
B) They tend to espouse a centrist ideological leaning. 
C) They tend to have a greater effect on policymakers than the public opinion polls of the general population. 
D) Roughly 10 percent of Americans participate in a mass demonstration or write a letter to the editor each year. 
E) Their opinions tend to be more extreme than those of the population as whole.

Question 6

What term do scholars use for a purported opinion offered by a respondent who is unfamiliar with the specific issue?

Accepted Answer

A) uninformed response 
B) faulty opinion 
C) invalid answer 
D) confused response 
E) non-opinion 
A) uninformed response 
B) faulty opinion 
C) invalid answer 
D) confused response 
E) non-opinion

Question 7

Historically,dramatic change in party identification is uncommon and is almost always a consequence of

Accepted Answer

A) a change in the policy position of the president. 
B) major upheaval. 
C) popular satisfaction with a government initiative. 
D) a change in the law. 
E) a Supreme Court ruling. 
A) a change in the policy position of the president. 
B) major upheaval. 
C) popular satisfaction with a government initiative. 
D) a change in the law. 
E) a Supreme Court ruling.

Question 8

All of the following ideological types are prevalent in the United States EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A) liberals. 
B) conservatives. 
C) populists. 
D) libertarians. 
E) communists. 
A) liberals. 
B) conservatives. 
C) populists. 
D) libertarians. 
E) communists.

Question 9

You will be LEAST likely to find a "blue state" in the

Accepted Answer

A) South. 
B) Northeast. 
C) northern Midwest. 
D) West Coast. 
E) Pacific Northwest. 
A) South. 
B) Northeast. 
C) northern Midwest. 
D) West Coast. 
E) Pacific Northwest.

Question 10

How informed is American public opinion? Explain.

Accepted Answer

The American public has a generally low

Question 11

The accuracy of a poll is usually expressed in terms of

Accepted Answer

A) population density. 
B) census parameter. 
C) population error. 
D) sampling error. 
E) interview error. 
A) population density. 
B) census parameter. 
C) population error. 
D) sampling error. 
E) interview error.

Question 12

Women are less likely than men to favor

Accepted Answer

A) affirmative action. 
B) abortion rights. 
C) higher levels of education spending. 
D) the use of force to settle international disputes. 
E) All these answers are correct. 
A) affirmative action. 
B) abortion rights. 
C) higher levels of education spending. 
D) the use of force to settle international disputes. 
E) All these answers are correct.

Question 13

Which of the following statements about party identification is true?

Accepted Answer

A) Pollsters did not measure Independent as a form of identification until early in the twenty-first century. 
B) Currently,more people identify as Republicans than as Democrats. 
C) Currently,more people identify as Democrats than as Republicans. 
D) Over the last several decades,the percentage of people identifying as Republicans has increased substantially. 
E) Over the last several decades,the percentage of people identifying as Independents has increased substantially. 
A) Pollsters did not measure Independent as a form of identification until early in the twenty-first century. 
B) Currently,more people identify as Republicans than as Democrats. 
C) Currently,more people identify as Democrats than as Republicans. 
D) Over the last several decades,the percentage of people identifying as Republicans has increased substantially. 
E) Over the last several decades,the percentage of people identifying as Independents has increased substantially.

Question 14

Students are MOST likely to hear stories about America's heroes and greatness when they are in

Accepted Answer

A) elementary school. 
B) middle school. 
C) high school. 
D) an undergraduate college program. 
E) graduate school. 
A) elementary school. 
B) middle school. 
C) high school. 
D) an undergraduate college program. 
E) graduate school.

Question 15

Identify and discuss the frames of reference that Americans rely upon when forming their political opinions.

Accepted Answer

The text outlines three of the major fra

Question 16

Which of the following states is a competitive state,meaning that it could potentially vote either Democratic or Republican?

Accepted Answer

A) Florida 
B) California 
C) Massachusetts 
D) Kansas 
E) Minnesota 
A) Florida 
B) California 
C) Massachusetts 
D) Kansas 
E) Minnesota

Question 17

Selective perception is primarily a result of

Accepted Answer

A) economic class. 
B) religion. 
C) partisanship. 
D) race and ethnicity. 
E) age and generational beliefs. 
A) economic class. 
B) religion. 
C) partisanship. 
D) race and ethnicity. 
E) age and generational beliefs.

Question 18

Currently,the greatest percentage of Americans identify as

Accepted Answer

A) Democrats. 
B) Republicans. 
C) Independents. 
D) Libertarians. 
E) Populists. 
A) Democrats. 
B) Republicans. 
C) Independents. 
D) Libertarians. 
E) Populists.

Question 19

Which of the following is true about public opinion polling?

Accepted Answer

A) Polls are the most relied-upon method of measuring public opinion. 
B) Polls can be erroneous at times. 
C) Most large news organizations have their own in-house polls. 
D) The Gallup pollsters have correctly predicted the winner of presidential elections most of the time since 1936. 
E) All these answers are correct. 
A) Polls are the most relied-upon method of measuring public opinion. 
B) Polls can be erroneous at times. 
C) Most large news organizations have their own in-house polls. 
D) The Gallup pollsters have correctly predicted the winner of presidential elections most of the time since 1936. 
E) All these answers are correct.

Question 20

The only presidential election in which the Gallup poll erred badly was

Accepted Answer

A) 1928 Hoover-Smith. 
B) 1936 Roosevelt-Landon. 
C) 1948 Truman-Dewey. 
D) 1964 Johnson-Goldwater. 
E) 2000 Bush-Gore. 
A) 1928 Hoover-Smith. 
B) 1936 Roosevelt-Landon. 
C) 1948 Truman-Dewey. 
D) 1964 Johnson-Goldwater. 
E) 2000 Bush-Gore.

Which of the following is true of the relationship between public opinion and shifts in major government policies?

Which of the following is NOT a primary socializing agent?

Libertarians are opposed to governmental intervention

A properly drawn sample of one thousand individuals has a sampling error of roughly plus or minus ________ percent.

Which of the following is true of letter writers and demonstrators?

What term do scholars use for a purported opinion offered by a respondent who is unfamiliar with the specific issue?

Historically,dramatic change in party identification is uncommon and is almost always a consequence of

All of the following ideological types are prevalent in the United States EXCEPT

You will be LEAST likely to find a "blue state" in the

How informed is American public opinion? Explain.

The accuracy of a poll is usually expressed in terms of

Women are less likely than men to favor

Which of the following statements about party identification is true?

Students are MOST likely to hear stories about America's heroes and greatness when they are in

Identify and discuss the frames of reference that Americans rely upon when forming their political opinions.

Which of the following states is a competitive state,meaning that it could potentially vote either Democratic or Republican?

Selective perception is primarily a result of

Currently,the greatest percentage of Americans identify as

Which of the following is true about public opinion polling?

The only presidential election in which the Gallup poll erred badly was

Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen

Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government

Federalism: Forging a Nation

Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights

Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness

Political Participation: Activating the Popular Will

Political Parties,candidates,and Campaigns: Defining the Voters Choice

Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

The News Media: Communicating Political Images

Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

The Presidency: Leading the Nation

The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government

The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law

Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity

Income,welfare,and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

Filters

Exam 6: Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the Peoples Voice

Which of the following is true of the relationship between public opinion and shifts in major government policies?

Which of the following is NOT a primary socializing agent?

Libertarians are opposed to governmental intervention

A properly drawn sample of one thousand individuals has a sampling error of roughly plus or minus ________ percent.

Which of the following is true of letter writers and demonstrators?

What term do scholars use for a purported opinion offered by a respondent who is unfamiliar with the specific issue?

Historically,dramatic change in party identification is uncommon and is almost always a consequence of

All of the following ideological types are prevalent in the United States EXCEPT

You will be LEAST likely to find a "blue state" in the

How informed is American public opinion? Explain.

The accuracy of a poll is usually expressed in terms of

Women are less likely than men to favor

Which of the following statements about party identification is true?

Students are MOST likely to hear stories about America's heroes and greatness when they are in

Identify and discuss the frames of reference that Americans rely upon when forming their political opinions.

Which of the following states is a competitive state,meaning that it could potentially vote either Democratic or Republican?

Selective perception is primarily a result of

Currently,the greatest percentage of Americans identify as

Which of the following is true about public opinion polling?

The only presidential election in which the Gallup poll erred badly was

Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen

Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government

Federalism: Forging a Nation

Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights

Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness

Political Participation: Activating the Popular Will

Political Parties,candidates,and Campaigns: Defining the Voters Choice

Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

The News Media: Communicating Political Images

Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

The Presidency: Leading the Nation

The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government

The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law

Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity

Income,welfare,and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

Filters