Question 1

Assume that Howard and Javier used proper sampling techniques to draw two samples of Hispanic Floridians.Each sample will be surveyed about proposed immigration policy reform and its impact on Hispanics living in the state.The samples were selected identically,but one includes 1,000 respondents and the other consists of 2,000 respondents.Given the information presented in this scenario,which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

Larger sample sizes generally lead to more precise estimates, thus the results from the 2,000-person sample are likely to be more reliable than those from the 1,000-person sample.

Question 2

What is the typical aim of protests in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The typical aim of protests in the United States is to affect public policy change by raising awareness and advocating for specific issues or reforms.

Question 3

According to research by Jacobs and Shapiro,politicians use public opinion polls to __________.

Accepted Answer

Jacobs and Shapiro's research indicates that politicians use public opinion polls primarily to shape their messages to the public, rather than to directly dictate their voting or policy decisions.

Question 4

You agree with Darrell M.West,who argues that the United States needs to reorient its immigration policy toward enhancing economic development.Which of the following potential immigrants do you think is most deserving of an immigrant visa?

Accepted Answer

A Turkish national with a promising new manufacturing process aligns with the goal of enhancing economic development by potentially introducing innovative technologies or methods that could benefit the economy.

Question 5

Which of the following viewpoints is more likely to be held by a political liberal than by a political conservative?

Accepted Answer

Political liberals are generally more supportive of government intervention in the economy to regulate activities for the public good, in contrast to conservatives who often advocate for less government involvement in the economy.

Question 6

Which of the following statements about American attitudes toward the scope of government is true?

Accepted Answer

A majority of Americans often express a preference for a more streamlined federal government, desiring efficiency and less bureaucracy.

Question 7

Which of the following is unconventional political participation?

Accepted Answer

Staging a sit-in is considered unconventional political participation because it involves protest actions that are outside the formal channels of political participation, such as elections and lobbying.

Question 8

Women are more likely than men to cast their ballots for which type of candidate?

Accepted Answer

Women are generally more likely to vote for Democratic candidates who prioritize spending on social services over military spending, reflecting broader gender differences in political priorities and values.

Question 9

What was the effect of the 1924 immigration law that established official quotas for immigrants based on national origin?

Accepted Answer

The 1924 immigration law, also known as the Johnson-Reed Act, established quotas that favored immigrants from northwestern Europe, significantly limiting immigrants from other regions, thus making most new immigrants from northwestern Europe.

Question 10

To determine if families with children would use school vouchers to send their children to charter schools,from which of the following populations should you select a sample?

Accepted Answer

Parents of children under age 18 are the most relevant group to survey about using school vouchers for charter schools, as they are directly affected by this issue.

Question 11

Political protests are often described as __________.

Accepted Answer

Political protests are often described as dramatic and unconventional because they aim to attract public attention and disrupt the normal order to bring about change.

Question 12

Politicians tend to ignore __________.

Accepted Answer

Politicians tend to ignore nonvoters because they focus on the needs and opinions of those who are likely to vote, as these are the individuals who have a direct impact on their chances of being elected or re-elected.

Question 13

Which of the following is considered conventional political participation?

Accepted Answer

Running for public office is a form of conventional political participation, as it involves engaging in formal political processes and institutions.

Question 14

Which of the following is a disadvantage of conducting a public opinion survey over the phone?

Accepted Answer

People are generally less willing to participate in telephone surveys compared to in-person surveys, which can lead to lower response rates and potential biases in the data collected.

Question 15

Why do seats in the House of Representatives need to be reapportioned?

Accepted Answer

The number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives is determined by its population, which can increase or decrease over time. Reapportionment ensures that representation is fairly distributed based on the latest population data, typically gathered through the census.

Question 16

How do liberals differ from conservatives?

Accepted Answer

Liberals generally support a broad role for government in reducing inequality and promoting social welfare, which contrasts with conservative views that often emphasize smaller government and less intervention in the economy.

Question 17

In a random sample of 1,000 high school students,29 percent indicated that they had read the Declaration of Independence at least once,with a sampling error of 4 percent.Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is C because the sampling error of 4 percent means the true percentage of the population who have read the Declaration of Independence could be 4 percent higher or lower than the 29 percent observed in the sample. Therefore, it is likely that between 25 percent (29-4) and 33 percent (29+4) of the population have read the Declaration of Independence.

Question 18

According to Russell Neuman,the "paradox of mass politics" is that the American political system works as well as it does despite __________.

Accepted Answer

The "paradox of mass politics," as described by Russell Neuman, highlights the functioning of the American political system despite the public's general lack of knowledge about politics. This suggests that the system can operate effectively even when the electorate is not highly informed about political issues and processes.

Question 19

Which of the following generally increase with age?

Accepted Answer

Political participation and strength of party attachment tend to increase with age as individuals become more engaged in the political process and develop stronger affiliations with political parties over time.

Question 20

Which of the following statements about the 1936 Literary Digest poll that predicted Roosevelt's reelection defeat is true?

Accepted Answer

The 1936 Literary Digest poll is infamous for its flawed methodology, which included oversampling individuals with higher incomes. This was primarily because the poll relied on telephone directories and automobile registration lists to identify potential respondents, inadvertently biasing the sample towards wealthier individuals who were more likely to own telephones and cars during the Great Depression. This demographic was less supportive of Roosevelt, leading to inaccurate predictions about the election outcome.

Quiz 6: Public Opinion and Political Action