Question 1

Why does the marketplace of ideas often have a moderating effect on people's opinions?

Accepted Answer

A)  Given constant exposure to other people's ideas, it is almost impossible for one not to modify one's own viewpoints. 
B)  Moderate ideas usually have the best financial backing, and the greatest publicity. 
C)  The most popular ideas are usually the most moderate ones. 
D)  Those who shop in the marketplace of ideas typically start with moderate viewpoints. 
E)  Moderate ideas are always closest to the truth and, therefore, are most successful in the marketplace of ideas. 
A)  Given constant exposure to other people's ideas, it is almost impossible for one not to modify one's own viewpoints. 
B)  Moderate ideas usually have the best financial backing, and the greatest publicity. 
C)  The most popular ideas are usually the most moderate ones. 
D)  Those who shop in the marketplace of ideas typically start with moderate viewpoints. 
E)  Moderate ideas are always closest to the truth and, therefore, are most successful in the marketplace of ideas.

Question 2

Which of the following statements about the ideological preferences of Americans is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  More Americans have identified themselves as conservatives than as liberals over the last twenty years. 
B)  The percentage of Americans identifying themselves as liberals has increased since the mid-1990s. 
C)  More Americans have identified themselves as moderates than as liberals over the last twenty years. 
D)  Prior to 2000, there were almost no Americans who identified themselves as liberal. 
E)  More Americans have identified themselves as liberals or conservatives than as moderates over the last twenty years. 
A)  More Americans have identified themselves as conservatives than as liberals over the last twenty years. 
B)  The percentage of Americans identifying themselves as liberals has increased since the mid-1990s. 
C)  More Americans have identified themselves as moderates than as liberals over the last twenty years. 
D)  Prior to 2000, there were almost no Americans who identified themselves as liberal. 
E)  More Americans have identified themselves as liberals or conservatives than as moderates over the last twenty years.

Question 3

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 4

Pollsters use random digit dialing to gather national samples for surveys because:

Accepted Answer

A)  Sampling errors are typically too low when other techniques are used 
B)  Sampling errors are typically too high when other techniques are used 
C)  There is no complete list of all Americans that can be used to identify the population 
D)  It is the only method that allows for push polling 
E)  It is the only method that generates high levels of measurement error 
A)  Sampling errors are typically too low when other techniques are used 
B)  Sampling errors are typically too high when other techniques are used 
C)  There is no complete list of all Americans that can be used to identify the population 
D)  It is the only method that allows for push polling 
E)  It is the only method that generates high levels of measurement error

Question 5

Opposition to legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by ______,while support for legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  liberals; conservatives 
B)  conservatives; liberals 
C)  libertarians; conservatives 
D)  liberals; libertarians 
E)  libertarians; liberals 
A)  liberals; conservatives 
B)  conservatives; liberals 
C)  libertarians; conservatives 
D)  liberals; libertarians 
E)  libertarians; liberals

Question 6

The fact that Democratic Party leaders have become more liberal and Republican Party leaders more conservative is important because:

Accepted Answer

A)  it has made the gender gap much smaller 
B)  it has significantly decreased the illusion of saliency in polling 
C)  it has significantly increased the illusion of saliency in polling 
D)  partisans in the public tend to rely on party leaders for cues on the appropriate positions to take on major political issues 
E)  partisans in the public no longer rely on party leaders for cues on the appropriate positions to take on major political issues 
A)  it has made the gender gap much smaller 
B)  it has significantly decreased the illusion of saliency in polling 
C)  it has significantly increased the illusion of saliency in polling 
D)  partisans in the public tend to rely on party leaders for cues on the appropriate positions to take on major political issues 
E)  partisans in the public no longer rely on party leaders for cues on the appropriate positions to take on major political issues

Question 7

Families,social groups,and schools are important institutions where people are politically socialized.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Which of following phenomena is NOT an illustration of the gender gap?

Accepted Answer

A)  More women than men vote for Democrats. 
B)  More women than men tend to favor government measures to protect the environment. 
C)  Men are more likely to join political parties and other social organizations. 
D)  Men are more militaristic on issues of war and peace than women. 
E)  Men are less supportive of government social and health care programs than women. 
A)  More women than men vote for Democrats. 
B)  More women than men tend to favor government measures to protect the environment. 
C)  Men are more likely to join political parties and other social organizations. 
D)  Men are more militaristic on issues of war and peace than women. 
E)  Men are less supportive of government social and health care programs than women.

Question 9

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 10

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 11

People's political party preferences are primarily acquired through the influence of:

Accepted Answer

A)  their families 
B)  the region of the country they inhabit 
C)  their education 
D)  the media they consume 
E)  their occupation 
A)  their families 
B)  the region of the country they inhabit 
C)  their education 
D)  the media they consume 
E)  their occupation

Question 12

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 13

Liberalism and conservatism are good examples of:

Accepted Answer

A)  public opinions 
B)  political attitudes 
C)  political ideologies 
D)  political interests 
E)  political preferences 
A)  public opinions 
B)  political attitudes 
C)  political ideologies 
D)  political interests 
E)  political preferences

Question 14

The belief that government is a wasteful and dangerous institution and should be limited to as few activities as possible is an example of a political:

Accepted Answer

A)  culture 
B)  value 
C)  ideology 
D)  truism 
E)  interest 
A)  culture 
B)  value 
C)  ideology 
D)  truism 
E)  interest

Question 15

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 16

Levels of education have not been shown to affect one's political opinions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

The set of complex beliefs and values that,as a whole,form a general philosophy about the government is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  public opinion 
B)  political ideology 
C)  political socialization 
D)  political efficacy 
E)  political sophistication 
A)  public opinion 
B)  political ideology 
C)  political socialization 
D)  political efficacy 
E)  political sophistication

Question 18

A survey of 1,000 people can be effective for measuring the opinions of all Americans.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

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 20

The social desirability effect refers to:

Accepted Answer

A)  the bias in surveys that comes from the repeated failure of pollsters to interview respondents who come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds 
B)  the strong desire that people have to express their opinions to survey researchers 
C)  the fact that respondents report what they expect the interviewer wishes to hear or whatever they think is socially acceptable rather than what they actually believe or know to be true 
D)  the impression conveyed by polls that something is important to the public when actually it is not 
E)  the tendency for people to shift their electoral support to the candidate whom public opinion polls report as the front-runner 
A)  the bias in surveys that comes from the repeated failure of pollsters to interview respondents who come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds 
B)  the strong desire that people have to express their opinions to survey researchers 
C)  the fact that respondents report what they expect the interviewer wishes to hear or whatever they think is socially acceptable rather than what they actually believe or know to be true 
D)  the impression conveyed by polls that something is important to the public when actually it is not 
E)  the tendency for people to shift their electoral support to the candidate whom public opinion polls report as the front-runner

Why does the marketplace of ideas often have a moderating effect on people's opinions?

Which of the following statements about the ideological preferences of Americans is FALSE?

A political ideology is best defined as:

Pollsters use random digit dialing to gather national samples for surveys because:

Opposition to legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by ,while support for legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by .

The fact that Democratic Party leaders have become more liberal and Republican Party leaders more conservative is important because:

Families,social groups,and schools are important institutions where people are politically socialized.

Which of following phenomena is NOT an illustration of the gender gap?

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?

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:

People's political party preferences are primarily acquired through the influence of:

In public opinion surveys,a sample of the total population:

Liberalism and conservatism are good examples of:

The belief that government is a wasteful and dangerous institution and should be limited to as few activities as possible is an example of a political:

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

Levels of education have not been shown to affect one's political opinions.

The set of complex beliefs and values that,as a whole,form a general philosophy about the government is called:

A survey of 1,000 people can be effective for measuring the opinions of all Americans.

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

The social desirability effect refers to:

Introduction: The Citizen and the Government

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

The Media

Political Parties,Participation,and Elections

Interest Groups

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy

The Federal Courts

Domestic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters

Exam 5: Public Opinion

Why does the marketplace of ideas often have a moderating effect on people's opinions?

Which of the following statements about the ideological preferences of Americans is FALSE?

A political ideology is best defined as:

Pollsters use random digit dialing to gather national samples for surveys because:

Opposition to legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by ______,while support for legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by ______.

The fact that Democratic Party leaders have become more liberal and Republican Party leaders more conservative is important because:

Families,social groups,and schools are important institutions where people are politically socialized.

Which of following phenomena is NOT an illustration of the gender gap?

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?

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:

People's political party preferences are primarily acquired through the influence of:

In public opinion surveys,a sample of the total population:

Liberalism and conservatism are good examples of:

The belief that government is a wasteful and dangerous institution and should be limited to as few activities as possible is an example of a political:

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

Levels of education have not been shown to affect one's political opinions.

The set of complex beliefs and values that,as a whole,form a general philosophy about the government is called:

A survey of 1,000 people can be effective for measuring the opinions of all Americans.

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

The social desirability effect refers to:

Introduction: The Citizen and the Government

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

The Media

Political Parties,Participation,and Elections

Interest Groups

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy

The Federal Courts

Domestic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters

Opposition to legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by ,while support for legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by .