Question 1

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. B

Question 2

The process by which underlying political values are formed is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  political socialization. 
B)  ideological education. 
C)  brainwashing. 
D)  value enhancing. 
E)  attitudinal evolution. 
A)  political socialization. 
B)  ideological education. 
C)  brainwashing. 
D)  value enhancing. 
E)  attitudinal evolution. A

Question 3

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. D

Question 4

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 5

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

In order to draw a simple random sample of Americans, a researcher

Accepted Answer

A)  needs to interview at least 5,000 people. 
B)  needs to interview less than 1,000 people. 
C)  needs to interview at least 1,000 people. 
D)  needs a complete list of all the people in the United States. 
E)  needs only a random number generator. 
A)  needs to interview at least 5,000 people. 
B)  needs to interview less than 1,000 people. 
C)  needs to interview at least 1,000 people. 
D)  needs a complete list of all the people in the United States. 
E)  needs only a random number generator.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

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 9

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 10

Which of the following statements about governmental public relations efforts is not true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Due to its size and power, the government is always successful at influencing public opinion. 
B)  Despite its size and power, the government has trouble influencing public opinion because the news media frequently disputes its claims. 
C)  Despite its size and power, the government has trouble influencing public opinion because interest groups frequently dispute its claims. 
D)  Despite its size and power, the government has trouble influencing public opinion because there are often conflicts within the government about what should be done. 
E)  Modern presidents focus a great deal of attention on shaping public opinion to boost support for their policy agendas. 
A)  Due to its size and power, the government is always successful at influencing public opinion. 
B)  Despite its size and power, the government has trouble influencing public opinion because the news media frequently disputes its claims. 
C)  Despite its size and power, the government has trouble influencing public opinion because interest groups frequently dispute its claims. 
D)  Despite its size and power, the government has trouble influencing public opinion because there are often conflicts within the government about what should be done. 
E)  Modern presidents focus a great deal of attention on shaping public opinion to boost support for their policy agendas.

Question 11

The fact that many middle-class and lower-middle-class citizens who did not stand to benefit from President Bush's tax cuts seemed to favor them is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  the importance of political knowledge. 
B)  the importance of self-interest. 
C)  the importance of political efficacy. 
D)  the "spiral of silence." 
E)  bandwagon effects. 
A)  the importance of political knowledge. 
B)  the importance of self-interest. 
C)  the importance of political efficacy. 
D)  the "spiral of silence." 
E)  bandwagon effects.

Question 12

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 13

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 14

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 15

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 16

The various attitudes that citizens possess toward political issues, events, and people are called

Accepted Answer

A)  public opinions. 
B)  political values. 
C)  public ideologies. 
D)  political propaganda. 
E)  cultural philosophies. 
A)  public opinions. 
B)  political values. 
C)  public ideologies. 
D)  political propaganda. 
E)  cultural philosophies.

Question 17

How are political views formed? Describe some of the key processes and factors through which individuals become politically socialized. How do external institutions such as families and groups, as well as personal experiences, come to shape individual opinions?

Accepted Answer

Political views are formed through a com

Question 18

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.

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

The failure of major pollsters to predict Jesse Ventura's 1998 victory in Minnesota's gubernatorial election demonstrates that

Accepted Answer

A)  pollsters placed too much emphasis on the two major parties' candidates. 
B)  researchers polled only people who had voted before, ignoring potential new voters. 
C)  poll takers believed that voters would actually show up to vote if they said they would. 
D)  the wording of the polls overemphasized Ventura's past career in wrestling. 
E)  the bandwagon effect can change the outcome of elections. 
A)  pollsters placed too much emphasis on the two major parties' candidates. 
B)  researchers polled only people who had voted before, ignoring potential new voters. 
C)  poll takers believed that voters would actually show up to vote if they said they would. 
D)  the wording of the polls overemphasized Ventura's past career in wrestling. 
E)  the bandwagon effect can change the outcome of elections.

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

The process by which underlying political values are formed is known as

Each of the following is a liberal organization except

A frequent cause of measurement error in polls is due to

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

In order to draw a simple random sample of Americans, a researcher

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

Which statement concerning the news media is not true?

A political ideology is best defined as

Which of the following statements about governmental public relations efforts is not true?

The fact that many middle-class and lower-middle-class citizens who did not stand to benefit from President Bush's tax cuts seemed to favor them is an example of

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

In public opinion surveys, a sample of the total population

Survey experiments have shown that

The famous Lincoln-Douglas debates took place

The various attitudes that citizens possess toward political issues, events, and people are called

How are political views formed? Describe some of the key processes and factors through which individuals become politically socialized. How do external institutions such as families and groups, as well as personal experiences, come to shape individual opinions?

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

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

The failure of major pollsters to predict Jesse Ventura's 1998 victory in Minnesota's gubernatorial election demonstrates that

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

Filters

Exam 6: Public Opinion

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

The process by which underlying political values are formed is known as

Each of the following is a liberal organization except

A frequent cause of measurement error in polls is due to

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

In order to draw a simple random sample of Americans, a researcher

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

Which statement concerning the news media is not true?

A political ideology is best defined as

Which of the following statements about governmental public relations efforts is not true?

The fact that many middle-class and lower-middle-class citizens who did not stand to benefit from President Bush's tax cuts seemed to favor them is an example of

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

In public opinion surveys, a sample of the total population

Survey experiments have shown that

The famous Lincoln-Douglas debates took place

The various attitudes that citizens possess toward political issues, events, and people are called

How are political views formed? Describe some of the key processes and factors through which individuals become politically socialized. How do external institutions such as families and groups, as well as personal experiences, come to shape individual opinions?

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

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

The failure of major pollsters to predict Jesse Ventura's 1998 victory in Minnesota's gubernatorial election demonstrates that

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

Filters