Question 1

Which of the following statements is true with respect to party identification?

Accepted Answer

A)  In recent decades, the proportion of people who identify with either one of the two major parties has been declining. 
B)  In recent decades, the proportion of people who identify with the Democratic Party has dramatically increased. 
C)  In recent decades, there have been huge increases in the proportion of people who identify themselves as Democrats or Republicans. 
D)  There has been little change in the proportion of people identifying with political parties since the 1930s. 
E)  Traditional parties are crumbling; most voters are turning independent. 
A)  In recent decades, the proportion of people who identify with either one of the two major parties has been declining. 
B)  In recent decades, the proportion of people who identify with the Democratic Party has dramatically increased. 
C)  In recent decades, there have been huge increases in the proportion of people who identify themselves as Democrats or Republicans. 
D)  There has been little change in the proportion of people identifying with political parties since the 1930s. 
E)  Traditional parties are crumbling; most voters are turning independent. A

Question 2

Compared to the average American, individuals with higher levels of education tend to be more tolerant of extreme views.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

In measuring how stable collective public opinion generally is, we find high and stable support given to

Accepted Answer

A)  foreign aid. 
B)  environmental programs. 
C)  space program. 
D)  arms sales abroad. 
E)  economic issues. 
A)  foreign aid. 
B)  environmental programs. 
C)  space program. 
D)  arms sales abroad. 
E)  economic issues. B

Question 4

Why might we be concerned about a U.S. citizenry that is poorly informed and that has no real opinions about government and politics?

Accepted Answer

An ill-informed and

Question 5

Ideology is defined as a

Accepted Answer

A)  system of opinions espoused by a political party. 
B)  coherent set of values that often leads to totalitarianism. 
C)  system of interrelated attitudes and beliefs. 
D)  set of prejudices and fears about the world. 
E)  a sense of belonging to a political party. 
A)  system of opinions espoused by a political party. 
B)  coherent set of values that often leads to totalitarianism. 
C)  system of interrelated attitudes and beliefs. 
D)  set of prejudices and fears about the world. 
E)  a sense of belonging to a political party.

Question 6

________ is a primary issue at the center of America's culture wars.

Accepted Answer

A)  Freedom of expression 
B)  Inequality of representation 
C)  Prayer in public schools 
D)  The role of federal influence through spending 
E)  Civil rights 
A)  Freedom of expression 
B)  Inequality of representation 
C)  Prayer in public schools 
D)  The role of federal influence through spending 
E)  Civil rights

Question 7

Most surveys try for a ________ percent chance of being accurate within 2 or 3 percentage points.

Accepted Answer

A)  100 
B)  80 
C)  95 
D)  90 
E)  50 
A)  100 
B)  80 
C)  95 
D)  90 
E)  50

Question 8

Polling data reveals that

Accepted Answer

A)  individual citizens tend to have very stable and reliable opinions about politics. 
B)  the collective opinions of the mass public are very unstable. 
C)  the collective opinions of the mass public are remarkably stable. 
D)  public opinion tends to react strongly to unimportant events heavily covered by the mass media. 
E)  social liberals tend to support the Republican party. 
A)  individual citizens tend to have very stable and reliable opinions about politics. 
B)  the collective opinions of the mass public are very unstable. 
C)  the collective opinions of the mass public are remarkably stable. 
D)  public opinion tends to react strongly to unimportant events heavily covered by the mass media. 
E)  social liberals tend to support the Republican party.

Question 9

Which is NOT one of the worries scholars and survey professionals have in terms of undermining the validity of a survey?

Accepted Answer

A)  Americans will not answer calls that ask for personal information due to fears of identity theft. 
B)  Americans have become less willing to answer pollsters' questions because advertisers have sometimes disguised themselves as researchers. 
C)  Americans are increasingly using caller ID to screen out unwanted or unsolicited calls. 
D)  Americans are relying more and more on mobile phones, which are often turned off. 
E)  Americans are using answering machines to avoid answering unsolicited calls. 
A)  Americans will not answer calls that ask for personal information due to fears of identity theft. 
B)  Americans have become less willing to answer pollsters' questions because advertisers have sometimes disguised themselves as researchers. 
C)  Americans are increasingly using caller ID to screen out unwanted or unsolicited calls. 
D)  Americans are relying more and more on mobile phones, which are often turned off. 
E)  Americans are using answering machines to avoid answering unsolicited calls.

Question 10

African American and white political opinions are the most divergent on issues of

Accepted Answer

A)  affirmative action. 
B)  abortion rights. 
C)  government regulations of corporations. 
D)  religion. 
E)  a balanced budget. 
A)  affirmative action. 
B)  abortion rights. 
C)  government regulations of corporations. 
D)  religion. 
E)  a balanced budget.

Question 11

The collective public opinion of Americans is highly unstable and does not take available information into account in decision-making.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

___________ plays a crucial role in democratic government because democracy concerns how closely government policy corresponds to the wishes of its citizens.

Accepted Answer

A)  Public opinion 
B)  Political efficacy 
C)  Party identification 
D)  Political culture 
E)  Political ideology 
A)  Public opinion 
B)  Political efficacy 
C)  Party identification 
D)  Political culture 
E)  Political ideology

Question 13

___________ are also known as the instruments by which beliefs and attitudes are conveyed to individuals in society.

Accepted Answer

A)  Agents of socialization 
B)  Political attitudes 
C)  Political responsibilities 
D)  Social information stores 
E)  Political cultures 
A)  Agents of socialization 
B)  Political attitudes 
C)  Political responsibilities 
D)  Social information stores 
E)  Political cultures

Question 14

Perhaps one explanation for the fact that blacks tend to be more liberal than whites on economic issues is

Accepted Answer

A)  they are more likely than whites to be Republicans. 
B)  their economically disadvantaged position in American society. 
C)  they simply believe in the status quo. 
D)  they prefer less government control. 
E)  all of the above 
A)  they are more likely than whites to be Republicans. 
B)  their economically disadvantaged position in American society. 
C)  they simply believe in the status quo. 
D)  they prefer less government control. 
E)  all of the above

Question 15

Scholars have been unable to find any relationship between changes in public opinion and policy change.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

How do African Americans identify themselves as politically different from white Americans?

Accepted Answer

A)  More African Americans identify themselves as liberals rather than conservatives, while the reverse is true for white Americans. 
B)  More African Americans identify themselves as socially conservative rather than socially liberal, while the reverse is true for white Americans. 
C)  More African Americans identify themselves as more economically conservative than economically liberal, while the reverse is true for white Americans. 
D)  More African Americans identify themselves as socially liberal rather than socially conservative, while the reverse is true for white Americans. 
E)  More African Americans support Republicans, while the reverse is true for white Americans. 
A)  More African Americans identify themselves as liberals rather than conservatives, while the reverse is true for white Americans. 
B)  More African Americans identify themselves as socially conservative rather than socially liberal, while the reverse is true for white Americans. 
C)  More African Americans identify themselves as more economically conservative than economically liberal, while the reverse is true for white Americans. 
D)  More African Americans identify themselves as socially liberal rather than socially conservative, while the reverse is true for white Americans. 
E)  More African Americans support Republicans, while the reverse is true for white Americans.

Question 17

Why isn't listening to callers on a talk radio station a good way of measuring public opinion?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are a self-selecting group who may not hold views that are typical of most Americans. 
B)  They are generally wealthier than the average American, with the time to call in their opinions, thus they don't represent a typical American. 
C)  Callers to a station are always a self-selecting group of conservatives, so they don't represent the average American. 
D)  Talk radio is heard by only local stations, so it can't represent the country. 
E)  Most people don't listen to radio as much as they watch television, so the audience is not representative of the average American. 
A)  They are a self-selecting group who may not hold views that are typical of most Americans. 
B)  They are generally wealthier than the average American, with the time to call in their opinions, thus they don't represent a typical American. 
C)  Callers to a station are always a self-selecting group of conservatives, so they don't represent the average American. 
D)  Talk radio is heard by only local stations, so it can't represent the country. 
E)  Most people don't listen to radio as much as they watch television, so the audience is not representative of the average American.

Question 18

Which of the following statements is true concerning the difference between liberalism and conservatism?

Accepted Answer

A)  Economic liberty is stressed by conservatives, while equality of opportunity is stressed by liberals. 
B)  Conservatives stress the need for economic safety nets, while liberals tend to put more emphasis on economic liberty. 
C)  Liberals stress the need for equality of opportunity, while conservatives stress the need for economic safety nets. 
D)  Government regulation is stressed by conservatives, while safety nets are stressed by liberals. 
E)  Liberals stress economic liberty, while conservatives stress equality of opportunity. 
A)  Economic liberty is stressed by conservatives, while equality of opportunity is stressed by liberals. 
B)  Conservatives stress the need for economic safety nets, while liberals tend to put more emphasis on economic liberty. 
C)  Liberals stress the need for equality of opportunity, while conservatives stress the need for economic safety nets. 
D)  Government regulation is stressed by conservatives, while safety nets are stressed by liberals. 
E)  Liberals stress economic liberty, while conservatives stress equality of opportunity.

Question 19

When comparing the ideologies of conservatism and liberalism, conservatives

Accepted Answer

A)  emphasize government protection of the rights of individuals to participate in marches and demonstrations. 
B)  stress equality of opportunity and the need for government regulation and safety nets. 
C)  tend to put more emphasis on economic liberty and freedom from government interference. 
D)  favor free choices and a minimum of government involvement in enforcement of law and order. 
E)  favor affirmative action and are typically pro choice. 
A)  emphasize government protection of the rights of individuals to participate in marches and demonstrations. 
B)  stress equality of opportunity and the need for government regulation and safety nets. 
C)  tend to put more emphasis on economic liberty and freedom from government interference. 
D)  favor free choices and a minimum of government involvement in enforcement of law and order. 
E)  favor affirmative action and are typically pro choice.

Question 20

Young people tend to solidify their policy preferences and party loyalties in response to the historical moment at which they come of age.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Which of the following statements is true with respect to party identification?

Compared to the average American, individuals with higher levels of education tend to be more tolerant of extreme views.

In measuring how stable collective public opinion generally is, we find high and stable support given to

Why might we be concerned about a U.S. citizenry that is poorly informed and that has no real opinions about government and politics?

Ideology is defined as a

________ is a primary issue at the center of America's culture wars.

Most surveys try for a ________ percent chance of being accurate within 2 or 3 percentage points.

Polling data reveals that

Which is NOT one of the worries scholars and survey professionals have in terms of undermining the validity of a survey?

African American and white political opinions are the most divergent on issues of

The collective public opinion of Americans is highly unstable and does not take available information into account in decision-making.

___________ plays a crucial role in democratic government because democracy concerns how closely government policy corresponds to the wishes of its citizens.

___________ are also known as the instruments by which beliefs and attitudes are conveyed to individuals in society.

Perhaps one explanation for the fact that blacks tend to be more liberal than whites on economic issues is

Scholars have been unable to find any relationship between changes in public opinion and policy change.

How do African Americans identify themselves as politically different from white Americans?

Why isn't listening to callers on a talk radio station a good way of measuring public opinion?

Which of the following statements is true concerning the difference between liberalism and conservatism?

When comparing the ideologies of conservatism and liberalism, conservatives

Young people tend to solidify their policy preferences and party loyalties in response to the historical moment at which they come of age.

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism States and Nations

Structural Foundations of the American Government

News Media

Interest Groups and Business Corporations

Social Movements

Political Parties

Participation Voting, and Elections

Congress

The President

The Executive Branch

The Courts

Freedom: the Struggle for Civil Liberties

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

The Budget and Economic Policies

Social Safety Nets

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters

Exam 5: Public Opinion

Which of the following statements is true with respect to party identification?

Compared to the average American, individuals with higher levels of education tend to be more tolerant of extreme views.

In measuring how stable collective public opinion generally is, we find high and stable support given to

Why might we be concerned about a U.S. citizenry that is poorly informed and that has no real opinions about government and politics?

Ideology is defined as a

________ is a primary issue at the center of America's culture wars.

Most surveys try for a ________ percent chance of being accurate within 2 or 3 percentage points.

Polling data reveals that

Which is NOT one of the worries scholars and survey professionals have in terms of undermining the validity of a survey?

African American and white political opinions are the most divergent on issues of

The collective public opinion of Americans is highly unstable and does not take available information into account in decision-making.

___________ plays a crucial role in democratic government because democracy concerns how closely government policy corresponds to the wishes of its citizens.

___________ are also known as the instruments by which beliefs and attitudes are conveyed to individuals in society.

Perhaps one explanation for the fact that blacks tend to be more liberal than whites on economic issues is

Scholars have been unable to find any relationship between changes in public opinion and policy change.

How do African Americans identify themselves as politically different from white Americans?

Why isn't listening to callers on a talk radio station a good way of measuring public opinion?

Which of the following statements is true concerning the difference between liberalism and conservatism?

When comparing the ideologies of conservatism and liberalism, conservatives

Young people tend to solidify their policy preferences and party loyalties in response to the historical moment at which they come of age.

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism States and Nations

Structural Foundations of the American Government

News Media

Interest Groups and Business Corporations

Social Movements

Political Parties

Participation Voting, and Elections

Congress

The President

The Executive Branch

The Courts

Freedom: the Struggle for Civil Liberties

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

The Budget and Economic Policies

Social Safety Nets

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters