Question 1

The United States is a nation without political ideologies.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Calling randomly selected phone numbers is a good way for pollsters to reduce sampling errors.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

A political ideology is best defined as

Accepted Answer

A)  the specific preferences individuals contemplate while discussing an issue. 
B)  the basic principles that shape particular attitudes. 
C)  a cohesive set of beliefs that form a general philosophy about the government. 
D)  the concrete interests that people try to defend through public policy. 
E)  the various attitudes that citizens possess toward political issues,events,and people. 
A)  the specific preferences individuals contemplate while discussing an issue. 
B)  the basic principles that shape particular attitudes. 
C)  a cohesive set of beliefs that form a general philosophy about the government. 
D)  the concrete interests that people try to defend through public policy. 
E)  the various attitudes that citizens possess toward political issues,events,and people.

Question 4

Cell phones and caller ID have dramatically reduced the problem of selection bias in public opinion surveys.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

A wealthy businessperson who is very liberal is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  the fact that group memberships always fully explain all of an individual's political views. 
B)  the fact that group memberships never fully explain all of an individual's political views. 
C)  the power of the bandwagon effect. 
D)  the negative consequences of the spiral of silence. 
E)  the impact of political efficacy on political attitudes. 
A)  the fact that group memberships always fully explain all of an individual's political views. 
B)  the fact that group memberships never fully explain all of an individual's political views. 
C)  the power of the bandwagon effect. 
D)  the negative consequences of the spiral of silence. 
E)  the impact of political efficacy on political attitudes.

Question 6

Differences in opinion can be influenced by one's gender.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

It is often said that while Americans may be divided by ideology or opinion,they are united by fundamental political values.Describe these core values.How do they serve to unite American public opinion?

Accepted Answer

The core political values that unite Ame

Question 8

Which of the following statements about the relationship between public opinion and government policy is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Public opinion always shifts in opposition to government policy once the policy has been implemented. 
B)  Public opinion always shifts in favor of government policy once the policy has been implemented. 
C)  Shifts in public opinion almost never lead to changes in government policy. 
D)  Shifts in public opinion always lead to changes in government policy. 
E)  Although there is no one-to-one correlation between public opinion and government policy,shifts in public opinion on particular issues frequently lead to changes in government policy. 
A)  Public opinion always shifts in opposition to government policy once the policy has been implemented. 
B)  Public opinion always shifts in favor of government policy once the policy has been implemented. 
C)  Shifts in public opinion almost never lead to changes in government policy. 
D)  Shifts in public opinion always lead to changes in government policy. 
E)  Although there is no one-to-one correlation between public opinion and government policy,shifts in public opinion on particular issues frequently lead to changes in government policy.

Question 9

Which of following phenomena is not an illustration of the gender gap?

Accepted Answer

A)  More women than men vote for Democrats. 
B)  More women than men tend to favor government measures to protect the environment. 
C)  Men are more likely to join political parties and other social organizations. 
D)  Men are more militaristic on issues of war and peace than women. 
E)  Men are less supportive of government social and health care programs than women. 
A)  More women than men vote for Democrats. 
B)  More women than men tend to favor government measures to protect the environment. 
C)  Men are more likely to join political parties and other social organizations. 
D)  Men are more militaristic on issues of war and peace than women. 
E)  Men are less supportive of government social and health care programs than women.

Question 10

Pollsters use random digit dialing to gather national samples for surveys because

Accepted Answer

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. 
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.

Question 11

Research into public opinion and public policy has shown that

Accepted Answer

A)  every citizen has an equally strong influence over politics and public policy decisions. 
B)  more affluent and more educated citizens have a disproportionate influence over politics and public-policy decisions. 
C)  less affluent and less educated citizens have a disproportionate influence over politics and public policy decisions. 
D)  nonvoters have a disproportionate influence over politics and public policy decisions. 
E)  the opinions of members of the public have no influence whatsoever over politics and public policy decisions. 
A)  every citizen has an equally strong influence over politics and public policy decisions. 
B)  more affluent and more educated citizens have a disproportionate influence over politics and public-policy decisions. 
C)  less affluent and less educated citizens have a disproportionate influence over politics and public policy decisions. 
D)  nonvoters have a disproportionate influence over politics and public policy decisions. 
E)  the opinions of members of the public have no influence whatsoever over politics and public policy decisions.

Question 12

In 1936,pollsters at the Literary Digest were guilty of ______ when they mistakenly predicted a presidential victory for Alf Landon over Franklin Roosevelt by polling people whose names came from the telephone book and automobile registration records.

Accepted Answer

A)  probability sampling 
B)  illusion of salience 
C)  random dialing 
D)  selection bias 
E)  push polling 
A)  probability sampling 
B)  illusion of salience 
C)  random dialing 
D)  selection bias 
E)  push polling

Question 13

Recent studies by political scientists have shown that

Accepted Answer

A)  Americans' knowledge of politics is generally high. 
B)  the average American exhibits little knowledge about political institutions,processes,or leaders. 
C)  there is little connection between possessing political knowledge and being an effective citizen. 
D)  younger people know much more about politics than older people. 
E)  most Americans never make political decisions "on the cheap" by making use of shortcuts. 
A)  Americans' knowledge of politics is generally high. 
B)  the average American exhibits little knowledge about political institutions,processes,or leaders. 
C)  there is little connection between possessing political knowledge and being an effective citizen. 
D)  younger people know much more about politics than older people. 
E)  most Americans never make political decisions "on the cheap" by making use of shortcuts.

Question 14

One who supports abortion rights and opposes state involvement with religious institutions would be best described as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  liberal. 
B)  conservative. 
C)  socialist. 
D)  internationalist. 
E)  isolationist. 
A)  liberal. 
B)  conservative. 
C)  socialist. 
D)  internationalist. 
E)  isolationist.

Question 15

Each of the following is a liberal organization except

Accepted Answer

A)  the Sierra Club. 
B)  the National Organization for Women. 
C)  World Wildlife Federation. 
D)  the Chamber of Commerce. 
E)  Friends of the Earth. 
A)  the Sierra Club. 
B)  the National Organization for Women. 
C)  World Wildlife Federation. 
D)  the Chamber of Commerce. 
E)  Friends of the Earth.

Question 16

The famous Lincoln-Douglas debates took place

Accepted Answer

A)  through a series of competing newspaper editorials. 
B)  on television,making it the first political broadcast in the United States. 
C)  outside,in the cornfields and town squares of Illinois. 
D)  in Madison Square Garden during the Republican Convention of 1860. 
E)  in the Senate during 1858. 
A)  through a series of competing newspaper editorials. 
B)  on television,making it the first political broadcast in the United States. 
C)  outside,in the cornfields and town squares of Illinois. 
D)  in Madison Square Garden during the Republican Convention of 1860. 
E)  in the Senate during 1858.

Question 17

The concept of a marketplace of ideas refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  important changes in copyright and patent laws that have restricted Americans' access to free information. 
B)  the competition between varying opinions and ideas that are aired in public forums. 
C)  the use of opinion pollsters who market a politician's speeches,ideas,and votes. 
D)  the explosion of information brought on by the Internet and other advances in electronic communication. 
E)  the elimination of government regulations on broadcast media such as radio and television. 
A)  important changes in copyright and patent laws that have restricted Americans' access to free information. 
B)  the competition between varying opinions and ideas that are aired in public forums. 
C)  the use of opinion pollsters who market a politician's speeches,ideas,and votes. 
D)  the explosion of information brought on by the Internet and other advances in electronic communication. 
E)  the elimination of government regulations on broadcast media such as radio and television.

Question 18

Political scientist John Zaller argues that

Accepted Answer

A)  political elites are not an important factor in determining what people think about political issues. 
B)  people's responses in public opinion surveys are never influenced by the wording of the questions. 
C)  public opinion is too complicated to be explained or measured. 
D)  the public relies on elite cues when forming opinions about complex policies. 
E)  the public carefully researches the details of every policy proposal when forming opinions on political issues. 
A)  political elites are not an important factor in determining what people think about political issues. 
B)  people's responses in public opinion surveys are never influenced by the wording of the questions. 
C)  public opinion is too complicated to be explained or measured. 
D)  the public relies on elite cues when forming opinions about complex policies. 
E)  the public carefully researches the details of every policy proposal when forming opinions on political issues.

Question 19

One recent survey showed that two-thirds of Americans believe the government is spending "too little" money on "assistance for the poor." Yet,another survey conducted at the same time found that only one-tenth of Americans believe that the government is spending "too little" on "welfare." This example shows that

Accepted Answer

A)  selection bias must always be considered when interpreting the results from a poll. 
B)  small differences in the wording of a question can lead to very different response patterns. 
C)  the findings from some polling agencies should not be trusted. 
D)  polling can never be used to understand public opinion on any issue. 
E)  the results from push polls are often inconsistent. 
A)  selection bias must always be considered when interpreting the results from a poll. 
B)  small differences in the wording of a question can lead to very different response patterns. 
C)  the findings from some polling agencies should not be trusted. 
D)  polling can never be used to understand public opinion on any issue. 
E)  the results from push polls are often inconsistent.

Question 20

Which of the following statements about the marketplace of ideas is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The English created the marketplace of ideas in the seventeenth century. 
B)  Private groups and the news media play important roles in shaping opinions in the marketplace of ideas. 
C)  Exposure to the marketplace of ideas rarely leads people to change their minds about political issues. 
D)  Only individuals,not groups or organizations,are allowed to promote ideas in the marketplace of ideas. 
E)  Government officials are legally prohibited from promoting ideas in the marketplace of ideas. 
A)  The English created the marketplace of ideas in the seventeenth century. 
B)  Private groups and the news media play important roles in shaping opinions in the marketplace of ideas. 
C)  Exposure to the marketplace of ideas rarely leads people to change their minds about political issues. 
D)  Only individuals,not groups or organizations,are allowed to promote ideas in the marketplace of ideas. 
E)  Government officials are legally prohibited from promoting ideas in the marketplace of ideas.

The United States is a nation without political ideologies.

Calling randomly selected phone numbers is a good way for pollsters to reduce sampling errors.

A political ideology is best defined as

Cell phones and caller ID have dramatically reduced the problem of selection bias in public opinion surveys.

A wealthy businessperson who is very liberal is an example of

Differences in opinion can be influenced by one's gender.

It is often said that while Americans may be divided by ideology or opinion,they are united by fundamental political values.Describe these core values.How do they serve to unite American public opinion?

Which of the following statements about the relationship between public opinion and government policy is most accurate?

Which of following phenomena is not an illustration of the gender gap?

Pollsters use random digit dialing to gather national samples for surveys because

Research into public opinion and public policy has shown that

In 1936,pollsters at the Literary Digest were guilty of ______ when they mistakenly predicted a presidential victory for Alf Landon over Franklin Roosevelt by polling people whose names came from the telephone book and automobile registration records.

Recent studies by political scientists have shown that

One who supports abortion rights and opposes state involvement with religious institutions would be best described as a(n)

Each of the following is a liberal organization except

The famous Lincoln-Douglas debates took place

The concept of a marketplace of ideas refers to

Political scientist John Zaller argues that

Which of the following statements about the marketplace of ideas is true?

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

The United States is a nation without political ideologies.

Calling randomly selected phone numbers is a good way for pollsters to reduce sampling errors.

A political ideology is best defined as

Cell phones and caller ID have dramatically reduced the problem of selection bias in public opinion surveys.

A wealthy businessperson who is very liberal is an example of

Differences in opinion can be influenced by one's gender.

It is often said that while Americans may be divided by ideology or opinion,they are united by fundamental political values.Describe these core values.How do they serve to unite American public opinion?

Which of the following statements about the relationship between public opinion and government policy is most accurate?

Which of following phenomena is not an illustration of the gender gap?

Pollsters use random digit dialing to gather national samples for surveys because

Research into public opinion and public policy has shown that

In 1936,pollsters at the Literary Digest were guilty of ______ when they mistakenly predicted a presidential victory for Alf Landon over Franklin Roosevelt by polling people whose names came from the telephone book and automobile registration records.

Recent studies by political scientists have shown that

One who supports abortion rights and opposes state involvement with religious institutions would be best described as a(n)

Each of the following is a liberal organization except

The famous Lincoln-Douglas debates took place

The concept of a marketplace of ideas refers to

Political scientist John Zaller argues that

Which of the following statements about the marketplace of ideas is true?

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