Question 1

In comparing the persuadability of the most and least politically informed people, which of the following holds true?

Accepted Answer

A

Question 2

A recent instance of priming comes from the post-9/11 era. Which of these statements is consistent with the priming argument?

Accepted Answer

This statement is consistent with the priming argument because it suggests that individuals' overall evaluations of President Bush were influenced by their recent thoughts and evaluations of his performance on combating terrorism, which was a prominent issue in the post-9/11 era. This is an example of priming because individuals' evaluations of one issue (terrorism) primed their evaluations of another issue (Bush's overall performance).

Question 3

In considering the evolution of media effects research, which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

The trend in media effects research has been that surveys typically found minimal effects, while experiments found more significant effects.

Question 4

A study by Bailenson et al. suggests that nonverbal framing of candidates can influence voting preferences even in the most visible of races. The frames used in this study concerned

Accepted Answer

The study by Bailenson et al. suggests that nonverbal framing of candidates can influence voting preferences, and the frames used in the study concerned the candidates' faces.

Question 5

During the height of the Gulf War, President George H. W. Bush's popularity exceeded 90 percent. Three months later it dropped below 50 percent. The standard explanation for this drop is

Accepted Answer

Priming effects refer to the influence media coverage can have on the public's perception of issues by making certain aspects more salient in people's minds. In the context of President George H. W. Bush's popularity drop after the Gulf War, the media's shift in focus from the war to domestic issues, such as the economy, likely changed the public's criteria for evaluating his performance, leading to a decrease in his approval ratings.

Question 6

News coverage is said to interact with personal circumstances in setting an individual's agenda. Which of the following demonstrates this?

Accepted Answer

This statement suggests that individuals' personal circumstances, such as being elderly and reliant on Social Security, can influence their responsiveness to news coverage. This supports the idea that news coverage interacts with personal circumstances in setting an individual's agenda. The other answer choices do not necessarily provide evidence for this interaction.

Question 7

In explaining the process of attitude change in response to a persuasive message, you would expect which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The dual-process model of persuasion suggests that individuals with low levels of involvement and information may be easily swayed by simple and superficial cues in a persuasive message, while highly informed and involved individuals may resist attitude change. However, individuals with moderate levels of information and involvement are likely to process information more deeply and critically, yet still be open to persuasion, making them more susceptible to attitude change.

Question 8

In what way did the 1980 presidential campaign provide a test of priming?

Accepted Answer

Priming refers to the effect of previous exposure to an issue or candidate on subsequent judgments. The 1980 presidential campaign provides a test of priming because the public evaluations of Carter on the hostage issue had significant effects on vote choice, as demonstrated by the fact that those who believed Carter mishandled the hostage crisis were more likely to vote for Reagan. This shows that exposure to information on a specific issue can prime voters to make their decisions based on that issue.

Question 9

Hovland's idea of methodological pluralism refers to

Accepted Answer

Hovland's idea of methodological pluralism refers to using both surveys and experiments. He believed that using different methods can provide a more complete understanding of the research question and increase the validity of the findings. Using multiple data sets or treatment conditions do not necessarily fall under the idea of methodological pluralism, although they may be useful in certain situations.

Question 10

In tracing the evolution of media effects research, which of the following sequences is correct?

Accepted Answer

Media effects research historically began with studies on persuasion, particularly looking at propaganda and its influence on public opinion. This was followed by agenda setting research, which explored how media attention to certain topics influences the public's perception of what is important. Priming, which involves the media's ability to shape the context or criteria people use to make judgments, came into focus later.

Question 11

The principal effect of episodic framing on viewers' attributions of responsibility is

Accepted Answer

Episodic framing focuses on individual stories rather than societal factors, which can lead viewers to attribute responsibility to individual factors such as personal characteristics or choices. This reinforces dispositional or individualistic accounts of political problems.

Question 12

Episodic framing of crime is thought to encourage which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Episodic framing of crime typically focuses on individual cases, emphasizing the personal characteristics and actions of the offender. This can lead viewers to attribute responsibility to the individual rather than to broader societal or structural factors.

Quiz 7: News and Public Opinion