Question 1

Push polls are scientific surveys designed to assess the public's support for a policy or candidate by using a probability sample.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

______ is the core political value most highly prized by American conservatives.

Accepted Answer

A)  Democracy 
B)  Liberty 
C)  Equality 
D)  Family 
E)  Justice 
A)  Democracy 
B)  Liberty 
C)  Equality 
D)  Family 
E)  Justice

Question 3

Political ideologies do not always provide us with a clear opinion on particular policies.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Why does the marketplace of ideas often have a moderating effect on people's opinions?

Accepted Answer

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. 
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.

Question 5

The increased amount of information online

Accepted Answer

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. 
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.

Question 6

Which statement concerning the news media is not true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The methods used to report the news help shape the underlying attitudes and opinions of those consuming the news. 
B)  In a free democracy,the news media provides information without framing or interpreting it in any particular way. 
C)  The news media presented the Bush administration's military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq,as well as its domestic antiterrorist efforts,in a positive light. 
D)  The news media has relentlessly investigated the personal and official wrongdoings of politicians. 
E)  The media's continual presentation of corruption in government has fostered cynicism and distrust in the public. 
A)  The methods used to report the news help shape the underlying attitudes and opinions of those consuming the news. 
B)  In a free democracy,the news media provides information without framing or interpreting it in any particular way. 
C)  The news media presented the Bush administration's military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq,as well as its domestic antiterrorist efforts,in a positive light. 
D)  The news media has relentlessly investigated the personal and official wrongdoings of politicians. 
E)  The media's continual presentation of corruption in government has fostered cynicism and distrust in the public.

Question 7

During the formation of an individual's initial political orientation,the influence of family counts for very little.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Levels of education have not been shown to affect one's political opinions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Conservatives are more likely than liberals to support

Accepted Answer

A)  government regulation of business. 
B)  abortion rights. 
C)  school prayer. 
D)  the expansion of government activity. 
E)  gay rights. 
A)  government regulation of business. 
B)  abortion rights. 
C)  school prayer. 
D)  the expansion of government activity. 
E)  gay rights.

Question 10

Which of the following statements about the political opinions of Democrats and Republicans in the public is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Differences between the political opinions of Democrats and Republicans on a wide variety of policy questions are smaller today than during any other period in the last forty years. 
B)  Differences between the political opinions of Democrats and Republicans on a wide variety of policy questions are greater today than during any other period in the last forty years. 
C)  The differences between the political opinions of Democrats and Republicans have always been the same throughout American history and have not become more intense over the last forty years. 
D)  Republicans and Democrats have similar opinions on all political issues with the exception of national security-where Democrats are more "hawkish" than Republicans. 
E)  The political opinions of Democrats and Republicans in the public are unaffected by the opinions of party leaders. 
A)  Differences between the political opinions of Democrats and Republicans on a wide variety of policy questions are smaller today than during any other period in the last forty years. 
B)  Differences between the political opinions of Democrats and Republicans on a wide variety of policy questions are greater today than during any other period in the last forty years. 
C)  The differences between the political opinions of Democrats and Republicans have always been the same throughout American history and have not become more intense over the last forty years. 
D)  Republicans and Democrats have similar opinions on all political issues with the exception of national security-where Democrats are more "hawkish" than Republicans. 
E)  The political opinions of Democrats and Republicans in the public are unaffected by the opinions of party leaders.

Question 11

The typical margin of error in a sample survey of 1,500 respondents is

Accepted Answer

A)  0.1 percent. 
B)  0.5 percent. 
C)  2.5 percent. 
D)  10 percent. 
E)  15 percent. 
A)  0.1 percent. 
B)  0.5 percent. 
C)  2.5 percent. 
D)  10 percent. 
E)  15 percent.

Question 12

Survey experiments have shown that

Accepted Answer

A)  roughly half of Americans had misgivings about a black president in 2007 and 2008. 
B)  roughly one-third of Americans had misgivings about a black president in 2007 and 2008. 
C)  roughly three-fourths of Americans had misgivings about a black president in 2007 and 2008. 
D)  almost all Americans had misgivings about a black president in 2007 and 2008. 
E)  almost no Americans had misgivings about a black president in 2007 and 2008. 
A)  roughly half of Americans had misgivings about a black president in 2007 and 2008. 
B)  roughly one-third of Americans had misgivings about a black president in 2007 and 2008. 
C)  roughly three-fourths of Americans had misgivings about a black president in 2007 and 2008. 
D)  almost all Americans had misgivings about a black president in 2007 and 2008. 
E)  almost no Americans had misgivings about a black president in 2007 and 2008.

Question 13

The term gender gap refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  differences in political opinions between men and women. 
B)  differences in education and income levels for men and women. 
C)  differing levels of political participation between the genders. 
D)  differences in fundamental political values held by men and women. 
E)  differences in the amount of attention elected officials give to men and women in their campaign speeches. 
A)  differences in political opinions between men and women. 
B)  differences in education and income levels for men and women. 
C)  differing levels of political participation between the genders. 
D)  differences in fundamental political values held by men and women. 
E)  differences in the amount of attention elected officials give to men and women in their campaign speeches.

Question 14

A frequent cause of measurement error in polls is due to

Accepted Answer

A)  unresponsiveness. 
B)  poorly worded questions. 
C)  push polling. 
D)  the increased use of cell phones. 
E)  sampling error. 
A)  unresponsiveness. 
B)  poorly worded questions. 
C)  push polling. 
D)  the increased use of cell phones. 
E)  sampling error.

Question 15

Which of the following statements best describes perceptions of racism among blacks and whites?

Accepted Answer

A)  Blacks are more likely than whites to believe that racism is very common in the United States today. 
B)  Whites are more likely than blacks to believe that racism is very common in the United States today. 
C)  Large majorities of both blacks and whites believe there is no racism in the United States today. 
D)  Large majorities of both blacks and whites believe racism is very common in the United States today. 
E)  Large majorities of both blacks and whites have no opinion on whether racism is common in the United States today. 
A)  Blacks are more likely than whites to believe that racism is very common in the United States today. 
B)  Whites are more likely than blacks to believe that racism is very common in the United States today. 
C)  Large majorities of both blacks and whites believe there is no racism in the United States today. 
D)  Large majorities of both blacks and whites believe racism is very common in the United States today. 
E)  Large majorities of both blacks and whites have no opinion on whether racism is common in the United States today.

Question 16

Which of the following was not part of the Bush administration's effort to maintain support for its war on terror?

Accepted Answer

A)  presidential speeches 
B)  press conferences 
C)  press releases 
D)  media appearances by administration officials 
E)  donations to academic institutions 
A)  presidential speeches 
B)  press conferences 
C)  press releases 
D)  media appearances by administration officials 
E)  donations to academic institutions

Question 17

What is the difference between a value and an ideology? Describe some of the characteristics and beliefs that define both liberalism and conservatism in contemporary American politics.What are the main differences between these two ideologies in terms of their emphasis on core American values? What are their points of agreement?

Accepted Answer

A value is a principle or standard that

Question 18

Which of the following statements about political opinions is not true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Race,income,and education cause important differences in opinion. 
B)  The poor are generally more supportive of economic and social programs than the wealthy. 
C)  The poor are generally less supportive of economic and social programs than the wealthy. 
D)  Whites and blacks have differing views on racism. 
E)  Women are more opposed to military intervention than men. 
A)  Race,income,and education cause important differences in opinion. 
B)  The poor are generally more supportive of economic and social programs than the wealthy. 
C)  The poor are generally less supportive of economic and social programs than the wealthy. 
D)  Whites and blacks have differing views on racism. 
E)  Women are more opposed to military intervention than men.

Question 19

The practice of push polling involves

Accepted Answer

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. 
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.

Question 20

In recent years,partisan realignment in the South and congressional redistricting have

Accepted Answer

A)  had no noticeable effect on the partisan composition of the Congress. 
B)  increased the number of conservative Democrats and liberal Republicans in the Congress. 
C)  reduced the number of conservative Democrats and all but eliminated liberal Republicans from the Congress. 
D)  increased the number of conservative Democrats and all but eliminated liberal Republicans from the Congress. 
E)  increased the number of liberal Republicans and all but eliminated conservative Democrats from the Congress. 
A)  had no noticeable effect on the partisan composition of the Congress. 
B)  increased the number of conservative Democrats and liberal Republicans in the Congress. 
C)  reduced the number of conservative Democrats and all but eliminated liberal Republicans from the Congress. 
D)  increased the number of conservative Democrats and all but eliminated liberal Republicans from the Congress. 
E)  increased the number of liberal Republicans and all but eliminated conservative Democrats from the Congress.

Push polls are scientific surveys designed to assess the public's support for a policy or candidate by using a probability sample.

______ is the core political value most highly prized by American conservatives.

Political ideologies do not always provide us with a clear opinion on particular policies.

Why does the marketplace of ideas often have a moderating effect on people's opinions?

The increased amount of information online

Which statement concerning the news media is not true?

During the formation of an individual's initial political orientation,the influence of family counts for very little.

Levels of education have not been shown to affect one's political opinions.

Conservatives are more likely than liberals to support

Which of the following statements about the political opinions of Democrats and Republicans in the public is most accurate?

The typical margin of error in a sample survey of 1,500 respondents is

Survey experiments have shown that

The term gender gap refers to

A frequent cause of measurement error in polls is due to

Which of the following statements best describes perceptions of racism among blacks and whites?

Which of the following was not part of the Bush administration's effort to maintain support for its war on terror?

Which of the following statements about political opinions is not true?

The practice of push polling involves

In recent years,partisan realignment in the South and congressional redistricting have

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

The Federal Courts

Government and the Economy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

Filters

Exam 6: Public Opinion

Push polls are scientific surveys designed to assess the public's support for a policy or candidate by using a probability sample.

______ is the core political value most highly prized by American conservatives.

Political ideologies do not always provide us with a clear opinion on particular policies.

Why does the marketplace of ideas often have a moderating effect on people's opinions?

The increased amount of information online

Which statement concerning the news media is not true?

During the formation of an individual's initial political orientation,the influence of family counts for very little.

Levels of education have not been shown to affect one's political opinions.

Conservatives are more likely than liberals to support

Which of the following statements about the political opinions of Democrats and Republicans in the public is most accurate?

The typical margin of error in a sample survey of 1,500 respondents is

Survey experiments have shown that

The term gender gap refers to

A frequent cause of measurement error in polls is due to

Which of the following statements best describes perceptions of racism among blacks and whites?

Which of the following was not part of the Bush administration's effort to maintain support for its war on terror?

Which of the following statements about political opinions is not true?

The practice of push polling involves

In recent years,partisan realignment in the South and congressional redistricting have

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

The Federal Courts

Government and the Economy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

Filters