Exam 5: Public Opinion

Of the following, which would political scientists consider least likely to be an agent of political socialization?

The correlation of income to party identification is increasingly weakening among all Americans, regardless of race.

Explain the distinction between a political attitude and a public opinion by providing an example of a political attitude and a public opinion referencing the Affordable Care Act.

Which of the following statements is more likely than the others to be a cause of concern for Republican candidates for office with respect to the Hispanic vote?

Most Americans share certain __________ about the nature of human beings, society, and the political order.

In a real __________, there must be a close match between public opinion and government policies and actions, at least in the long run.

What political opinion of Democratic presidents would you expect of children raised in politically active Republican households?

Which word best completes this sentence: Political socialization is a __________ process.

When does political socialization take place?

Even if people often say things off the top of their heads to survey interviewers, the responses of thousands or millions of people tend to average out this randomness and reveal a stable __________.

The religiously committed, only if they are Protestant, are more likely than other Americans to vote Republican and to hold conservative views, particularly on social issues.

Americans generally divide along two dimensions when it comes to government: one related to government's role in the economy, the other related to government's role in society.

For a homework assignment, you have been asked to identify a single political attitude or position on a public policy that confirms the presence of a generation gap in American politics. You are highly motivated to obtain the highest possible score on this assignment and diligently consult Table 5.1 in your textbook, which identifies gaps in the opinions of younger and older voters on a range of issues. Which attitude or policy position, among the following, would you choose to represent the largest gap in opinion between the young and the old?

Serena is a white, middle-class mother of two, who works as a librarian in the public library system of a large city in the American West. She is 57 years old. She is generally inclined to support Democratic candidates whose policies provide an economic safety net for those hardest hit by recessions but will occasionally vote Republican or as an independent when government enforcement of order and traditional values are under siege. Which label best describes Serena's thinking?

Which of the following statements about the political attitudes of Asian Americans is false?

Which of the following population groups is the more solidly Democratic than the others?

If you were making an argument for the use of public opinion polling to set public policy, which of the following statements would help you make your case?

What agent of political socialization plays a particularly important role in shaping the basic outlooks of children?

Which of the following statements about collective public opinion versus the public opinion of individuals is true?

People who say they are Democrats differ considerably in their political attitudes from those who say they are Republicans. Which of the following statements about the political attitudes of Democrats is false?