Question 1

John Zogby uses a scientifically robust methodology for his online polling.

Accepted Answer

John Zogby's online polling methodology is based on a representative sample of respondents and uses rigorous methods to ensure accuracy and reliability. Zogby has been recognized as a leading pollster, and his polling methods are widely respected in the industry.

Question 2

The 2008 Iowa Caucuses brought unprecedented competition between the five major television and cable networks for the most accurate polling data.

Accepted Answer

The 2008 Iowa Caucuses were notable for the competition between Democratic candidates, particularly Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards, rather than competition between television networks for polling data.

Question 3

Young voter turnout was below average in the 2008 Iowa Caucuses.

Accepted Answer

Young voter turnout was notably high in the 2008 Iowa Caucuses, contributing significantly to Barack Obama's victory, indicating a surge in political engagement among younger demographics during that election cycle.

Question 4

The phrasing of a question can have a significant effect on people's responses.

Accepted Answer

The way a question is worded can influence how someone interprets and responds to it. This is known as the framing effect. For example, asking "Are you in favor of reducing taxes?" may elicit a different response than asking "Are you in favor of cutting funding for important public services to reduce taxes?". The first question presents reducing taxes as a positive step, while the second question presents it as a potential negative consequence. Therefore, the way a question is phrased can have a significant impact on people's responses.

Question 5

Al-Jazeera

Accepted Answer

Al-Jazeera broadcasts from Qatar. None of the other choices are accurate.

Question 6

The direction and intensity of public opinion about hot-button issues are significantly different between whites and Hispanics.

Accepted Answer

There is evidence to suggest that public opinion on certain issues, such as immigration and gun control, vary significantly between white and Hispanic populations. Studies have shown that Hispanics are more likely to support policies that provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, as well as stronger gun control measures. Additionally, Hispanic attitudes on issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage may also differ from those of white Americans.

Question 7

Public opinion polling began in the 1800s.

Accepted Answer

Public opinion polling began in the 1930s with the work of George Gallup and others who developed scientific methods for measuring public opinion.

Question 8

If a survey with a margin of error of 4 percent reveals that 50 percent of a sample supports Obama's new health care agenda,then the overall public support for the agenda falls anywhere between 48 and 52 percent.

Accepted Answer

The correct range would be between 46 percent and 54 percent, as the margin of error needs to be subtracted from and added to the 50 percent figure.

Question 9

Suppose a poll includes 1,000 respondents,ensuring that the number of those sampled in a rural area is proportional to the actual rural population of the United States.This is called stratifying the sample.

Accepted Answer

Stratified sampling is the process of dividing the population into subgroups or strata based on specific characteristics, such as geographic location, gender, age, etc. The purpose of stratified sampling is to ensure that the sample accurately represents the population being studied. In this case, the sample is stratified based on the rural population in the United States, which means that the number of respondents from rural areas is proportional to the actual rural population. Therefore, the answer is A-True.

Question 10

Push polls are generally phrased to try to influence,rather than gauge,public opinion.

Accepted Answer

Push polls are designed to shape or manipulate public opinion rather than accurately measuring it. They often involve loaded or leading questions, and are used as a political campaign or marketing strategy.

Question 11

America's support of aid to Israel is likely rooted in the influence of religious groups on government.

Accepted Answer

Many religious groups in the United States, particularly evangelical Christians, support aid to Israel due to their belief in biblical prophecy and the importance of Israel in the fulfillment of those prophecies. This support and influence from religious groups has likely influenced the government's decision to provide aid to Israel.

Question 12

All of the following are conservative news commentators EXCEPT?

Accepted Answer

While Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, and Ann Coulter are all known for their conservative commentary in the news media, Keith Olbermann is a liberal commentator known for his appearances on MSNBC and ESPN.

Question 13

Polling organizations' predictions in 1948 led to the Chicago Tribune and other newspapers to incorrectly call the presidential election for Harry S Truman.

Accepted Answer

The Chicago Tribune and other newspapers incorrectly called the presidential election for Thomas E. Dewey, not Harry S. Truman. The famous photograph of Truman holding the incorrect "Dewey Defeats Truman" headline highlights this error.

Question 14

Straw polls are a reliable way to predict election results.

Accepted Answer

Straw polls are not a reliable way to predict election results as they often have small sample sizes and the respondents may not be representative of the overall population. Therefore, the results of a straw poll may not accurately reflect the opinions of the broader electorate.

Question 15

Voters in Florida are more likely to oppose vast increases in taxes to fund education than voters in other states.

Accepted Answer

According to a poll conducted by Education Week in 2018, only 39% of Florida voters supported increasing taxes to fund public education, compared to the national average of 52%. Therefore, voters in Florida are more likely to oppose vast increases in taxes to fund education than voters in other states.

Question 16

In 2000,a poll conducted by then-Governor George W.Bush's campaign said,"John McCain calls the campaign finance system corrupt,but as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee,he raises money and travels on the private jets of corporations with legislative proposals before his committee.In view of this,are you much more likely to vote for him,somewhat more likely to vote for him,somewhat more likely to vote against him or much more likely to vote against him?" This is an example of a push poll.

Accepted Answer

The question presents biased information in an attempt to sway the respondent's opinion about John McCain. This tactic is commonly used in push polls.

Question 17

In July of 2010,FOX News conducted an online poll asking visitors to the site to decide whether or not Lindsay Lohan should spend time in jail.This is an example of a poll that relies on self-selection.

Accepted Answer

A self-selection poll is one where respondents choose whether or not to participate, rather than being randomly selected. In this case, visitors to the FOX News website chose whether or not to participate in the poll about Lindsay Lohan.

Question 18

Screening procedures allow surveyors to exclude questions from surveys if the respondent has not thought about a particular issue.

Accepted Answer

Screening procedures are used to determine whether a respondent is appropriate for a particular survey and whether they have thought about the issues that the survey aims to address. If respondents have not thought about the issues, certain questions may be excluded to ensure that the survey results are accurate and relevant.

Question 19

Black children have historically had less positive views of a sitting president than white children.

Accepted Answer

This is supported by research and surveys which have consistently shown that Black children have lower levels of approval and trust in sitting presidents compared to their white counterparts. This can be attributed to a variety of factors including historical oppression, systemic racism, and political attitudes within the Black community.

Question 20

In general,race is not an important factor in political socialization.

Accepted Answer

Race can significantly influence political socialization by affecting individuals' political beliefs, party affiliations, and perspectives on policy issues, often due to historical, socioeconomic, and cultural factors.

Quiz 10: Public Opinion and the News Media