Question 1

Which of the following statements concerning exit polls is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are used by the networks to declare winners in national elections. 
B)  They are a form of pseudo-poll. 
C)  They are intended to provide information for analyzing the results of an election. 
D)  They are taken from people who have just voted. 
E)  They have a mixed record as a method for declaring who has won a state in a national election. 
A)  They are used by the networks to declare winners in national elections. 
B)  They are a form of pseudo-poll. 
C)  They are intended to provide information for analyzing the results of an election. 
D)  They are taken from people who have just voted. 
E)  They have a mixed record as a method for declaring who has won a state in a national election.

Question 2

A plebiscite is a popular vote on national policy issues.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Public opinion not only should matter but also does matter in American politics because ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  the public pays close attention to public policymaking 
B)  the public votes on the basis of well-informed policy views 
C)  the public is quick to react to all policy decisions that may not serve its interests 
D)  politicians and the media act as if it matters 
E)  the media is diligent in keeping the public well informed 
A)  the public pays close attention to public policymaking 
B)  the public votes on the basis of well-informed policy views 
C)  the public is quick to react to all policy decisions that may not serve its interests 
D)  politicians and the media act as if it matters 
E)  the media is diligent in keeping the public well informed

Question 4

Good survey questions meet all of the following criteria EXCEPT this one:

Accepted Answer

A)  They are unambiguous. 
B)  They are always short. 
C)  They ask about subjects that people are familiar with and that they have thought about. 
D)  They do not use loaded language. 
E)  They offer a reasonable number of choices. 
A)  They are unambiguous. 
B)  They are always short. 
C)  They ask about subjects that people are familiar with and that they have thought about. 
D)  They do not use loaded language. 
E)  They offer a reasonable number of choices.

Question 5

In recent years,ideology has become a more important factor in creating political divisions in American society.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The gender gap is especially large on issues of ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  equality 
B)  government involvement in the lives of citizens 
C)  social values 
D)  violence 
E)  justice 
A)  equality 
B)  government involvement in the lives of citizens 
C)  social values 
D)  violence 
E)  justice

Question 7

What are the three main objectives to keep in mind with respect to asking the right questions on a survey?

Accepted Answer

(1)Respondents should be asked

Question 8

Why should public opinion matter in a democracy,and why does public opinion matter?

Accepted Answer

Public opinion should matter because the

Question 9

The portion of the population selected to participate in a poll is known as the ______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The portion of the population selected to...

Question 10

The authors of the textbook argue that Americans behave as ideal citizens as ______,although as ______ they do not.

Accepted Answer

A)  a group; individuals 
B)  individuals; a group 
C)  voters; individuals 
D)  individuals; voters 
E)  subjects of public opinion polls; voters 
A)  a group; individuals 
B)  individuals; a group 
C)  voters; individuals 
D)  individuals; voters 
E)  subjects of public opinion polls; voters

Question 11

We can conclude from the history of polling that ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  polls are unreliable 
B)  polls were developed for the purpose of manipulating the public 
C)  politicians loved polls when they were introduced but now have learned to distrust polls 
D)  polls are reliable only when they are timely and have been conducted using the proper procedures 
E)  polls rarely do a good job of predicting the outcome of presidential elections 
A)  polls are unreliable 
B)  polls were developed for the purpose of manipulating the public 
C)  politicians loved polls when they were introduced but now have learned to distrust polls 
D)  polls are reliable only when they are timely and have been conducted using the proper procedures 
E)  polls rarely do a good job of predicting the outcome of presidential elections

Question 12

Compared to other industrialized nations,the United States ranks in the top five percent in voter participation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Public opinion pollsters will often ask respondents their opinions on complex issues and public policies.Research indicates these questions are most likely used to ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  create sampling error 
B)  ask respondents a poorly worded question 
C)  ask respondents a loaded question 
D)  ask respondents to express an opinion about something they do not know 
E)  ask respondents an ambiguous question 
A)  create sampling error 
B)  ask respondents a poorly worded question 
C)  ask respondents a loaded question 
D)  ask respondents to express an opinion about something they do not know 
E)  ask respondents an ambiguous question

Question 14

Today,the most likely cause of sampling bias in polls is ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  interviewers' reluctance to go into "bad" neighborhoods 
B)  the growing number of homeless people who are not sampled 
C)  the pollsters' own biases 
D)  the overrepresentation of the middle class in modern polls 
E)  when a person is picked for the sample and he or she cannot be contacted or refuses to participate 
A)  interviewers' reluctance to go into "bad" neighborhoods 
B)  the growing number of homeless people who are not sampled 
C)  the pollsters' own biases 
D)  the overrepresentation of the middle class in modern polls 
E)  when a person is picked for the sample and he or she cannot be contacted or refuses to participate

Question 15

______ refers to the state of being uninformed about politics because the cost in time and energy does not produce tangible or measurable results.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ______ refers to the state of being...

Question 16

A citizen's ability to hold democratic beliefs,including the acceptance that politics is about compromise,is called ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  democratic engagement 
B)  democratic enlightenment 
C)  democratic pragmatism 
D)  democratic virtue 
E)  democratic citizenship 
A)  democratic engagement 
B)  democratic enlightenment 
C)  democratic pragmatism 
D)  democratic virtue 
E)  democratic citizenship

Question 17

Which of the following statements concerning technology and polling is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Telephone interviewing replaced in-person polling. 
B)  Robo polling is the replacement of people with computers. 
C)  Reliance on cell phones by citizens creates a challenge for pollsters. 
D)  Pollsters now create panels of citizens who regularly answer online questions. 
E)  Autodialing is one method of overcoming the problems caused by citizen reliance on cell phones. 
A)  Telephone interviewing replaced in-person polling. 
B)  Robo polling is the replacement of people with computers. 
C)  Reliance on cell phones by citizens creates a challenge for pollsters. 
D)  Pollsters now create panels of citizens who regularly answer online questions. 
E)  Autodialing is one method of overcoming the problems caused by citizen reliance on cell phones.

Question 18

______ refers to a number that indicates within what range the results of a poll are accurate.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ______ refers to a number that indicates...

Question 19

According to studies,Americans tend to be ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  very knowledgeable about politics 
B)  not very knowledgeable about politics 
C)  knowledgeable about issues but not knowledgeable about officeholders 
D)  knowledgeable about officeholders but not knowledgeable about issues 
E)  knowledgeable about the political system but not knowledgeable about issues or candidates 
A)  very knowledgeable about politics 
B)  not very knowledgeable about politics 
C)  knowledgeable about issues but not knowledgeable about officeholders 
D)  knowledgeable about officeholders but not knowledgeable about issues 
E)  knowledgeable about the political system but not knowledgeable about issues or candidates

Question 20

Tolerance is a key democratic value because ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  it makes people feel good 
B)  most people believe in it 
C)  we should love our neighbors 
D)  the founders were tolerant 
E)  it is a prerequisite for compromise 
A)  it makes people feel good 
B)  most people believe in it 
C)  we should love our neighbors 
D)  the founders were tolerant 
E)  it is a prerequisite for compromise

Which of the following statements concerning exit polls is NOT true?

A plebiscite is a popular vote on national policy issues.

Public opinion not only should matter but also does matter in American politics because ______.

Good survey questions meet all of the following criteria EXCEPT this one:

In recent years,ideology has become a more important factor in creating political divisions in American society.

The gender gap is especially large on issues of ______.

What are the three main objectives to keep in mind with respect to asking the right questions on a survey?

Why should public opinion matter in a democracy,and why does public opinion matter?

The portion of the population selected to participate in a poll is known as the ______.

The authors of the textbook argue that Americans behave as ideal citizens as ,although as they do not.

We can conclude from the history of polling that ______.

Compared to other industrialized nations,the United States ranks in the top five percent in voter participation.

Public opinion pollsters will often ask respondents their opinions on complex issues and public policies.Research indicates these questions are most likely used to ______.

Today,the most likely cause of sampling bias in polls is ______.

______ refers to the state of being uninformed about politics because the cost in time and energy does not produce tangible or measurable results.

A citizen's ability to hold democratic beliefs,including the acceptance that politics is about compromise,is called ______.

Which of the following statements concerning technology and polling is NOT true?

______ refers to a number that indicates within what range the results of a poll are accurate.

According to studies,Americans tend to be ______.

Tolerance is a key democratic value because ______.

Politics: Who Gets What, and How?

American Citizens and Political Culture

Politics of the American Founding

Federalism and the U.S.Constitution

Fundamental American Liberties

The Struggle for Equal Rights

Congress

The Presidency

The Bureaucracy

The American Legal System and the Courts

Political Parties

Interest Groups

Voting, Campaigns, and Elections

The Media

Social and Environmental Policy

Economic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters

Exam 11: Public Opinion

Which of the following statements concerning exit polls is NOT true?

A plebiscite is a popular vote on national policy issues.

Public opinion not only should matter but also does matter in American politics because ______.

Good survey questions meet all of the following criteria EXCEPT this one:

In recent years,ideology has become a more important factor in creating political divisions in American society.

The gender gap is especially large on issues of ______.

What are the three main objectives to keep in mind with respect to asking the right questions on a survey?

Why should public opinion matter in a democracy,and why does public opinion matter?

The portion of the population selected to participate in a poll is known as the ______.

The authors of the textbook argue that Americans behave as ideal citizens as ______,although as ______ they do not.

We can conclude from the history of polling that ______.

Compared to other industrialized nations,the United States ranks in the top five percent in voter participation.

Public opinion pollsters will often ask respondents their opinions on complex issues and public policies.Research indicates these questions are most likely used to ______.

Today,the most likely cause of sampling bias in polls is ______.

______ refers to the state of being uninformed about politics because the cost in time and energy does not produce tangible or measurable results.

A citizen's ability to hold democratic beliefs,including the acceptance that politics is about compromise,is called ______.

Which of the following statements concerning technology and polling is NOT true?

______ refers to a number that indicates within what range the results of a poll are accurate.

According to studies,Americans tend to be ______.

Tolerance is a key democratic value because ______.

Politics: Who Gets What, and How?

American Citizens and Political Culture

Politics of the American Founding

Federalism and the U.S.Constitution

Fundamental American Liberties

The Struggle for Equal Rights

Congress

The Presidency

The Bureaucracy

The American Legal System and the Courts

Political Parties

Interest Groups

Voting, Campaigns, and Elections

The Media

Social and Environmental Policy

Economic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters

The authors of the textbook argue that Americans behave as ideal citizens as ,although as they do not.