Question 1

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 2

The increased importance that politicians have placed on public opinion polls over the last 50 years is due partly to

Accepted Answer

A)  The fact that public opinion polling is provided to political leaders free of charge. 
B)  The fact that the Supreme Court has struck down a number of state and federal laws that made public opinion polling illegal. 
C)  The fact that it has become very difficult for political leaders to experience public opinion directly. 
D)  The fact that media organizations no longer cover political issues as much as they once did. 
E)  The fact that protections for freedom of speech have increased dramatically. 
A)  The fact that public opinion polling is provided to political leaders free of charge. 
B)  The fact that the Supreme Court has struck down a number of state and federal laws that made public opinion polling illegal. 
C)  The fact that it has become very difficult for political leaders to experience public opinion directly. 
D)  The fact that media organizations no longer cover political issues as much as they once did. 
E)  The fact that protections for freedom of speech have increased dramatically.

Question 3

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 4

Research in political science has shown that even small shifts in public opinion are always translated into changes in government policy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Interest groups often spend time and money trying to shape public opinion.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

______ 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 7

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 8

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 9

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 10

If I decide to support a candidate because I see that he or she is the front-runner in a poll, I become an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  the bellwether effect. 
B)  the illusion of saliency. 
C)  the bandwagon effect. 
D)  the "bounce" effect. 
E)  push polling. 
A)  the bellwether effect. 
B)  the illusion of saliency. 
C)  the bandwagon effect. 
D)  the "bounce" effect. 
E)  push polling.

Question 11

Which of the following terms describe America's fundamental political values?

Accepted Answer

A)  liberal and conservative 
B)  Republican and Democrat 
C)  internationalist and isolationist 
D)  independent and moderate 
E)  liberty, equality, and democracy 
A)  liberal and conservative 
B)  Republican and Democrat 
C)  internationalist and isolationist 
D)  independent and moderate 
E)  liberty, equality, and democracy

Question 12

A liberal would most likely support

Accepted Answer

A)  an expansion in governmental social services. 
B)  an increase in the federal military budget. 
C)  prayer in the public schools. 
D)  a ban on abortions. 
E)  a reduction in foreign aid for poor countries. 
A)  an expansion in governmental social services. 
B)  an increase in the federal military budget. 
C)  prayer in the public schools. 
D)  a ban on abortions. 
E)  a reduction in foreign aid for poor countries.

Question 13

What is one of the main differences between those who have gone to college and those who have not?

Accepted Answer

A)  Those with a college education are less likely to believe that women and men should have equal roles. 
B)  Those with a college education are more likely to believe that abortion should never be allowed. 
C)  There is a higher level of political participation among those with a college education. 
D)  There is a lower level of political participation among those with a college education. 
E)  Those with a college education are more likely to believe that the United States should not concern itself with other nations' problems. 
A)  Those with a college education are less likely to believe that women and men should have equal roles. 
B)  Those with a college education are more likely to believe that abortion should never be allowed. 
C)  There is a higher level of political participation among those with a college education. 
D)  There is a lower level of political participation among those with a college education. 
E)  Those with a college education are more likely to believe that the United States should not concern itself with other nations' problems.

Question 14

The median voter theorem states that

Accepted Answer

A)  the most reliable strategy for a politician to take in winning reelection is to adopt policies that are consistent with the preferences of ideologically extreme voters. 
B)  the most reliable strategy for a politician to take in winning reelection is to adopt policies that are consistent with the preferences of centrist voters. 
C)  the average American voter is uninformed about the details of most government policies. 
D)  the average American voter is well informed about the details of most government policies. 
E)  government policy should always reflect what a majority of Americans want. 
A)  the most reliable strategy for a politician to take in winning reelection is to adopt policies that are consistent with the preferences of ideologically extreme voters. 
B)  the most reliable strategy for a politician to take in winning reelection is to adopt policies that are consistent with the preferences of centrist voters. 
C)  the average American voter is uninformed about the details of most government policies. 
D)  the average American voter is well informed about the details of most government policies. 
E)  government policy should always reflect what a majority of Americans want.

Question 15

In public opinion surveys, a sample of the total population

Accepted Answer

A)  must be at least 50 percent of the targeted population. 
B)  need be only 25 percent of the targeted population. 
C)  need be only 10 percent of the targeted population. 
D)  must be representative in that the views of those in the sample must accurately and proportionately reflect the views of the whole population. 
E)  must be based on all the registered voters in the targeted population. 
A)  must be at least 50 percent of the targeted population. 
B)  need be only 25 percent of the targeted population. 
C)  need be only 10 percent of the targeted population. 
D)  must be representative in that the views of those in the sample must accurately and proportionately reflect the views of the whole population. 
E)  must be based on all the registered voters in the targeted population.

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Most Americans are unified in their belief in the principles of liberty, equality, and democracy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

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 19

Which of the following statements about the forces that shape public opinion is not true?

Accepted Answer

A)  All governments try to influence, manipulate, or manage their citizens' beliefs. 
B)  Groups with public or private institutional support are more successful in marketing their ideas than groups who do not have such support. 
C)  The news media are not simply neutral messengers for the ideas developed by others. 
D)  Presidents rarely attempt to influence public support for the policies they are promoting. 
E)  The ways in which the news media frames or interprets events can have a major impact on how the public responds to these events. 
A)  All governments try to influence, manipulate, or manage their citizens' beliefs. 
B)  Groups with public or private institutional support are more successful in marketing their ideas than groups who do not have such support. 
C)  The news media are not simply neutral messengers for the ideas developed by others. 
D)  Presidents rarely attempt to influence public support for the policies they are promoting. 
E)  The ways in which the news media frames or interprets events can have a major impact on how the public responds to these events.

Question 20

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.

Exam 6: Public Opinion

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

The increased importance that politicians have placed on public opinion polls over the last 50 years is due partly to

Research in political science has shown that even small shifts in public opinion are always translated into changes in government policy.

Interest groups often spend time and money trying to shape public opinion.

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

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.

The increased amount of information online

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

If I decide to support a candidate because I see that he or she is the front-runner in a poll, I become an example of

Which of the following terms describe America's fundamental political values?

A liberal would most likely support

What is one of the main differences between those who have gone to college and those who have not?

The median voter theorem states that

In public opinion surveys, a sample of the total population

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

Most Americans are unified in their belief in the principles of liberty, equality, and democracy.

The famous Lincoln-Douglas debates took place

Which of the following statements about the forces that shape public opinion is not true?

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

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