Question 1

As parental and school influences wane in adulthood, which of the following emerges as a more important socialization agent?

Accepted Answer

As individuals move into adulthood, their peer groups and exposure to mass media become increasingly important for socialization. These influences can shape beliefs, values, and behaviors. While political parties, historical references, and the current president may play a role in shaping individuals' perspectives, they are not as consistently present in individuals' daily lives as adult peer groups and mass media.

Question 2

According to political scientists, what percentage of Americans know the name of the Speaker of the House?

Accepted Answer

According to political scientists, only about 10 percent of Americans know the name of the Speaker of the House, which is a concerning lack of knowledge about a crucial political position.

Question 3

The psychological attachment that a person feels to a political party is called what?

Accepted Answer

Party identification is the term used for the psychological attachment that a person feels to a political party. It is often shaped by one's personal experiences, family influences, and socio-economic background. party identification can have a significant impact on an individual's voting behavior and political attitudes.

Question 4

The generational effect refers to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The generational effect refers to the long-lasting impact of significant events of a particular time on the generation that came of age at that time, such as the impact of the Great Depression on the Silent Generation or the impact of the Vietnam War on the Baby Boomer Generation. It is a concept used in political science and sociology to explain how historical events can shape the values, beliefs, and attitudes of a particular generation.

Question 5

Which of the following is the first agent of political socialization for most people?

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that family is the first and most important agent of political socialization for most people, as parents and siblings are the primary sources of early political values and beliefs. This is often reinforced by shared cultural and religious values within the family unit.

Question 6

Which of the following statements concerning gender and political beliefs is incorrect?

Accepted Answer

The statement "Women are more likely to favor the death penalty" is incorrect. In general, women are less likely to favor the death penalty compared to men.

Question 7

Although the public may appear to be polarized along party lines, which of the following statements best describes why that polarization may not be reflected in public opinion?

Accepted Answer

Despite the appearance of polarization along party lines, there is actually a significant amount of similarity among both Democrats and Republicans on many issues, which may explain why this polarization may not be reflected in public opinion. Therefore, choice B is the best answer. The other choices are incorrect because they either do not address the issue of the gap between partisan polarization and public opinion, or they make inaccurate claims about public opinion trends.

Question 8

Which of the following are the major agents of early socialization in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Family, school, community, and peers are commonly seen as the major agents of socialization in the United States. These institutions have a significant impact on shaping an individual's beliefs, values, and behavior patterns. Religion, political party, and social class can also play a role, but are generally not considered as significant as the aforementioned institutions. Economics, television, and the internet are also influential factors in shaping socialization, but are not typically categorized as major agents.

Question 9

The process whereby one becomes aware of politics, learns political facts, and forms political values is called what?

Accepted Answer

The process described is referred to as political socialization. It is the process through which individuals develop their political beliefs, values, and attitudes, and it includes learning about politics and political events, as well as being influenced by family, peers, media, and other social institutions.

Question 10

Which of the following is most accurate in terms of how well informed people are about politics?

Accepted Answer

Studies have consistently shown that individual citizens have limited knowledge of political issues and current events. However, when these individuals come together to vote or participate in other forms of collective decision-making, they are often able to make rational and reasonable choices based on the information and perspectives they have gathered from their individual networks and sources. This is known as the "wisdom of crowds" phenomenon.

Question 11

Individuals often rely on cues and instincts to make decisions, rather than on an analysis of detailed information. Scholars have termed such thinking as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The question refers to individuals relying on instincts rather than detailed information, which suggests low information rationality. Choice A is incorrect because there is no mention of self-interest. Choice B is incorrect because the question does not necessarily imply a low attention span. Choice C is incorrect because there is no mention of a high attention syndrome. Choice E is incorrect because it implies that individuals are using detailed information to make decisions, which is not described in the question.

Question 12

Which of the following best describes the views of African Americans on issues of social welfare, civil liberties, and foreign policy?

Accepted Answer

African Americans have historically been more liberal on social welfare and civil liberties issues due to their experiences with systemic racism and inequality. On foreign policy, they have a more mixed record, but generally lean towards more dovish policies. While there is some diversity of opinion within the African American community, overall they are not more likely to be Republican or conservative, nor are they more politically neutral or apolitical than whites.

Question 13

In 2009, Senator Arlen Specter did which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Senator Arlen Specter left the Republican Party and became a Democrat in 2009.

Question 14

Which of the following describes an individual's status that is based on a combination of education, occupational status, and income?

Accepted Answer

The term that describes an individual's status based on a combination of education, occupational status, and income is socioeconomic status (SES), which is represented by choice E. SES is a way of classifying individuals into different categories based on their social and economic status, and it is often used in sociological research as a predictor of various outcomes such as health, life expectancy, and educational attainment. Choices A, B, C, and D do not accurately describe an individual's socioeconomic status.

Question 15

President Gerald Ford not knowing how to eat a tamale and Governor Mitt Romney talking about his wife's Cadillacs hurt both candidates in connecting with voters and are examples of how voters applied which of the following concepts?

Accepted Answer

Low information rationality refers to voters making decisions based on limited or incomplete information. In this case, voters may have judged Ford and Romney based on their lack of familiarity with common or relatable cultural practices (i.e. eating tamales, owning a Cadillac), rather than their policy positions or qualifications for office.

Question 16

The measurement of how ideologically coherent individuals are in their political evaluation is called which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The measurement of how ideologically coherent individuals are in their political evaluation is typically referred to as "levels of conceptualization." This refers to the degree to which individuals have a clear and consistent set of beliefs and values that guide their political thinking and behavior. It is often assessed through surveys or interviews that ask individuals to articulate their political views on a range of issues and evaluate the consistency and coherence of their responses.

Question 17

The difference between the percentage of women who vote for a particular candidate and the percentage of men who vote for that candidate is called which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The difference between the percentage of women and men who vote for a particular candidate is commonly known as the gender gap in politics. This gap has been observed in many countries and is believed to be influenced by various factors such as cultural, social, and economic differences between genders.

Question 18

Which of the following statements pertaining to the relationship between policy mood and elections is true?

Accepted Answer

Policy mood tends to swing back and forth in response to perceived successes and failures of government policies. Therefore, it is like a pendulum and does not remain stable for long periods.

Question 19

A condition in which differences between parties and/or the public are so stark that disagreement breaks out, fueling attacks and controversy, is known as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Polarization refers to a situation where there is a deep divide between different parties or groups, leading to strong disagreements and controversy. This can occur in politics, social issues, or other areas where people have different opinions and values. Polarization often leads to a breakdown in communication and can make compromise more difficult, as people become more entrenched in their views and less willing to consider alternative perspectives.

Question 20

A set of coherent beliefs that offers a philosophy for thinking about the scope of government is referred to as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A set of coherent beliefs that offers a philosophy for thinking about the scope of government is referred to as political ideology. Socialization refers to the process of learning and internalizing political values, while political polarization refers to sharp divisions between political parties or groups. Self-interest and political brinkmanship are not relevant to the definition provided.

Quiz 6: Public Opinion