Question 1

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 2

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 3

If a person does not know anything about a proposed piece of legislation but supports it because Barack Obama endorsed it, we would say the person

Accepted Answer

A)  fell prey to the illusion of saliency. 
B)  was an example of the bandwagon effect. 
C)  committed a sampling error. 
D)  was an example of the bellwether effect. 
E)  reached his or her decision through the use of an informational shortcut. 
A)  fell prey to the illusion of saliency. 
B)  was an example of the bandwagon effect. 
C)  committed a sampling error. 
D)  was an example of the bellwether effect. 
E)  reached his or her decision through the use of an informational shortcut.

Question 4

Conservatives are more likely than liberals to support

Accepted Answer

A)  government regulation of business. 
B)  abortion rights. 
C)  school prayer. 
D)  the expansion of government activity. 
E)  gay rights. 
A)  government regulation of business. 
B)  abortion rights. 
C)  school prayer. 
D)  the expansion of government activity. 
E)  gay rights.

Question 5

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 6

When George W. Bush supporters called conservative white voters during the 2000 South Carolina Republican primary to ask if they would be more or less likely to vote for John McCain if they knew that he had fathered an illegitimate black child, it was an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  a push poll. 
B)  a bandwagon poll. 
C)  a saliency illusion. 
D)  a selection bias. 
E)  a nonresponse bias. 
A)  a push poll. 
B)  a bandwagon poll. 
C)  a saliency illusion. 
D)  a selection bias. 
E)  a nonresponse bias.

Question 7

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 8

Which of the following best characterizes the Clinton White House's attempts to influence public opinion?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Clinton White House used techniques similar to those used in election campaigns to bolster popular enthusiasm for White House initiatives. 
B)  The Clinton White House made no attempts to influence public support for White House initiatives. 
C)  Clinton refused to employ any political consultants or pollsters in his administration. 
D)  The Clinton White House almost never communicated with representatives from the departments of the executive branch about how to coordinate the president's public relations efforts. 
E)  Despite the advice of some of his supporters, Clinton refused to establish a political "war room" to plan his administration's public relations efforts. 
A)  The Clinton White House used techniques similar to those used in election campaigns to bolster popular enthusiasm for White House initiatives. 
B)  The Clinton White House made no attempts to influence public support for White House initiatives. 
C)  Clinton refused to employ any political consultants or pollsters in his administration. 
D)  The Clinton White House almost never communicated with representatives from the departments of the executive branch about how to coordinate the president's public relations efforts. 
E)  Despite the advice of some of his supporters, Clinton refused to establish a political "war room" to plan his administration's public relations efforts.

Question 9

Which of the following was not part of the Bush administration's effort to maintain support for its war on terror?

Accepted Answer

A)  presidential speeches 
B)  press conferences 
C)  press releases 
D)  media appearances by administration officials 
E)  donations to academic institutions 
A)  presidential speeches 
B)  press conferences 
C)  press releases 
D)  media appearances by administration officials 
E)  donations to academic institutions

Question 10

The small group selected by pollsters to represent the entire population is called the

Accepted Answer

A)  validity quotient. 
B)  reliability quotient. 
C)  sample. 
D)  quota. 
E)  hypothesis. 
A)  validity quotient. 
B)  reliability quotient. 
C)  sample. 
D)  quota. 
E)  hypothesis.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The transition many white southerners made from the Democratic to the Republican Party is a good example of

Accepted Answer

A)  the changes in political conditions and circumstances in the South, rather than in opinions or values. 
B)  the growing conservative ideology in the South. 
C)  the growing liberal ideology in the South. 
D)  the rise of labor unions and other associations in the South. 
E)  the growth in patriotism in the South. 
A)  the changes in political conditions and circumstances in the South, rather than in opinions or values. 
B)  the growing conservative ideology in the South. 
C)  the growing liberal ideology in the South. 
D)  the rise of labor unions and other associations in the South. 
E)  the growth in patriotism in the South.

Question 13

During the formation of an individual's initial political orientation, the influence of family counts for very little.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

"Retail politics" refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  the fact that voters always vote for candidates who best represent their own self-interest. 
B)  attempts made by political machines in the nineteenth century to buy votes from citizens through cash payments. 
C)  debates about how extensively government should regulate the manufacture and sale of consumer goods. 
D)  campaigns where candidates meet citizens face-to-face to discuss politics. 
E)  government-run auctions to sell public property. 
A)  the fact that voters always vote for candidates who best represent their own self-interest. 
B)  attempts made by political machines in the nineteenth century to buy votes from citizens through cash payments. 
C)  debates about how extensively government should regulate the manufacture and sale of consumer goods. 
D)  campaigns where candidates meet citizens face-to-face to discuss politics. 
E)  government-run auctions to sell public property.

Question 15

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 16

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 17

Push polls are scientific surveys designed to assess the public's support for a policy or candidate by using a probability sample.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

David Hume said that government rests on public opinion alone. Explain the relationship between government and opinion. How do governmental actors try to shape opinion? What is the proper relationship between public opinion and policy?

Accepted Answer

David Hume's statement that government r

Question 19

______ are used by researchers to measure public opinion on sensitive issues without letting respondents know what information is being sought.

Accepted Answer

A)  Simple random samples 
B)  List experiments 
C)  Push polls 
D)  Bandwagon effects 
E)  Face-to-face surveys 
A)  Simple random samples 
B)  List experiments 
C)  Push polls 
D)  Bandwagon effects 
E)  Face-to-face surveys

Question 20

The United States is a nation without political ideologies.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

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

If a person does not know anything about a proposed piece of legislation but supports it because Barack Obama endorsed it, we would say the person

Conservatives are more likely than liberals to support

The concept of a marketplace of ideas refers to

When George W. Bush supporters called conservative white voters during the 2000 South Carolina Republican primary to ask if they would be more or less likely to vote for John McCain if they knew that he had fathered an illegitimate black child, it was an example of

Which of the following best characterizes the Clinton White House's attempts to influence public opinion?

Which of the following was not part of the Bush administration's effort to maintain support for its war on terror?

The small group selected by pollsters to represent the entire population is called the

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

The transition many white southerners made from the Democratic to the Republican Party is a good example of

During the formation of an individual's initial political orientation, the influence of family counts for very little.

"Retail politics" refers to

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.

Push polls are scientific surveys designed to assess the public's support for a policy or candidate by using a probability sample.

David Hume said that government rests on public opinion alone. Explain the relationship between government and opinion. How do governmental actors try to shape opinion? What is the proper relationship between public opinion and policy?

______ are used by researchers to measure public opinion on sensitive issues without letting respondents know what information is being sought.

The United States is a nation without political ideologies.

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 relationship between public opinion and government policy is most accurate?

If a person does not know anything about a proposed piece of legislation but supports it because Barack Obama endorsed it, we would say the person

Conservatives are more likely than liberals to support

The concept of a marketplace of ideas refers to

When George W. Bush supporters called conservative white voters during the 2000 South Carolina Republican primary to ask if they would be more or less likely to vote for John McCain if they knew that he had fathered an illegitimate black child, it was an example of

Which of the following best characterizes the Clinton White House's attempts to influence public opinion?

Which of the following was not part of the Bush administration's effort to maintain support for its war on terror?

The small group selected by pollsters to represent the entire population is called the

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

The transition many white southerners made from the Democratic to the Republican Party is a good example of

During the formation of an individual's initial political orientation, the influence of family counts for very little.

"Retail politics" refers to

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.

Push polls are scientific surveys designed to assess the public's support for a policy or candidate by using a probability sample.

David Hume said that government rests on public opinion alone. Explain the relationship between government and opinion. How do governmental actors try to shape opinion? What is the proper relationship between public opinion and policy?

______ are used by researchers to measure public opinion on sensitive issues without letting respondents know what information is being sought.

The United States is a nation without political ideologies.

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