Question 1

When George W. Bush supporters called conservative white voters during the 2000 South Carolina Republican primary to ask if they would be more or less likely to vote for John McCain if they knew that he had fathered an illegitimate black child, it was an example of

Accepted Answer

This is a classic example of a push poll, where the question is not aimed at gathering information but rather at manipulating voters and spreading negative rumors about a candidate. Push polls are often used to influence voters rather than measure public opinion.

Question 2

Which of the following statements about public opinion is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Shifts in public opinion can, in fact, lead to changes in public policy. Elected officials often have to respond to changes in public opinion in order to maintain their popularity with their constituents.

Question 3

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? Explain.

Accepted Answer

The answer of David Hume said that government rests on...

Question 4

In 1936, pollsters at the Literary Digest were guilty of ________ when they mistakenly predicted a presidential victory for Alf Landon over Franklin Roosevelt by polling people whose names came from the telephone book and automobile registration records.

Accepted Answer

The Literary Digest's poll suffered from selection bias because they only polled people whose names came from the telephone book and automobile registration records, which excluded many lower-income voters who were more likely to support Roosevelt.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about the relationship between public opinion and government policy is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

While there is no guarantee that shifts in public opinion will lead to changes in government policy, history has shown that shifts in public opinion on specific issues can often lead to changes in policy. However, other factors such as the role of interest groups, political polarization, and institutional constraints can also affect the relationship between public opinion and government policy.

Question 6

One recent survey showed that two-thirds of Americans believe that federal officials are spending "too little" money on "assistance for the poor." Yet, another survey conducted at the same time found that only one-tenth of Americans believe that federal officials are spending "too little" on "welfare." This example shows that

Accepted Answer

This example demonstrates how small differences in the wording of a question can lead to significant differences in the response pattern. The first survey asked about "assistance for the poor," which is a broad term that could encompass various forms of assistance, including Medicaid, food stamps, and other social services. The second survey asked specifically about "welfare," which is a more narrowly defined term referring to cash assistance for low-income families. The difference in wording likely led respondents to think of different types of programs and therefore answer differently. This highlights the importance of being mindful of question wording when interpreting the results of surveys.

Question 7

How are political views formed? Describe some of the key processes and factors through which individuals become politically socialized. How do institutions such as families and groups, as well as personal experiences, come to shape individual opinions?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How are political views formed? Describe some...

Question 8

Which statement concerning the news media is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

In a free democracy, the news media is not prohibited from framing or interpreting the news. In fact, many media outlets have a clear bias or agenda, which is reflected in their reporting.

Question 9

The fact that survey respondents overreport voting in elections and the frequency of their church attendance is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

The overreporting of voting and church attendance in surveys is often attributed to the social desirability effect, where respondents may feel pressure to give socially desirable responses rather than truthful ones. This effect can lead to an exaggeration of certain behaviors or attitudes in survey data. The Hawthorne effect refers to a situation where subjects alter their behavior due to the knowledge of being observed, while the coattail effect and bandwagon effect are related to the influence of other people's opinions or behaviors on one's own. The median voter theorem is a concept in political science that relates to the idea that in a two-party system, both parties will tend to converge towards the political center to appeal to the largest number of voters.

Question 10

Research into public opinion and public policy has shown that

Accepted Answer

Research consistently shows that individuals with higher levels of education and income have greater access to the political system and are more likely to have their opinions and preferences reflected in public policy decisions. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as "economic inequality of participation" or "political inequality." It means that the preferences of less educated and less affluent individuals are less likely to be represented in policymaking.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is true about public opinion in the contemporary time period?

Accepted Answer

Digital citizenship offers the promise of a more informed electorate. With easier access to information through the internet, people have the opportunity to educate themselves on political issues and developments. This can lead to a more informed and engaged electorate.

Question 12

Some contend that while Americans may be divided by ideology or opinion, they are united by fundamental political values. Describe these core values. How do they serve to unite American public opinion?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Some contend that while Americans may be...

Question 13

If a person supports a candidate because she or he is the front-runner in a poll, this is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

The bandwagon effect is the phenomenon where people support a candidate simply because they believe that the candidate is popular and winning. This is often driven by the perception that there is safety in numbers and a desire to be on the winning team.

Question 14

What is the difference between a value and an ideology? Describe some of the characteristics and beliefs that define both liberalism and conservatism in contemporary American politics. What are the main differences between these two ideologies in terms of their emphasis on core American values? What are their points of agreement?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the difference between a value...

Question 15

The practice of push polling involves

Accepted Answer

Push polling is a technique used to influence voters during an election campaign by asking loaded or leading questions under the guise of conducting a poll. The goal is not to gather information, but rather to shape or influence the opinions of those being polled.

Question 16

Describe how public opinion is measured. What is sampling and what is it meant to accomplish? Describe some of the problems and biases of polling, such as push polling and question wording. How do the social desirability effect and the bandwagon effect each distort the measurement of opinion?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe how public opinion is measured. What...

Question 17

A frequent cause of measurement error in polls is due to ________.

Accepted Answer

Poorly worded questions can lead to confusion or bias in the responses, causing measurement error. Unresponsiveness, push polling, and the increased use of cell phones can also contribute to measurement error, but they are not as frequent of a cause as poorly worded questions. Sampling error refers to the natural variability that occurs when using a sample to estimate characteristics of a larger population and is not necessarily a result of measurement error.

Question 18

In the 2012 presidential election,

Accepted Answer

Latino support for Mitt Romney was over-estimated in the 2012 presidential election.

Quiz 6: Public Opinion