Question 1

Although political scientists used to believe that the public had almost no meaningful opinions, they now believe that these opinions are based on a combination of principles and the information people have "on the top" of their heads.

Accepted Answer

Political scientists have shifted from the view that the public has no meaningful opinions to the view that their opinions are based on a combination of principles and information they have readily available.

Question 2

Early public research came to startling conclusions about public opinion, including:

Accepted Answer

Early public research found that many citizens held inconsistent opinions, meaning that they held beliefs that contradicted each other or changed depending on the wording of the question. This suggested that public opinion was not always well-informed or rational.

Question 3

Public opinion is best defined as:

Accepted Answer

Public opinion refers to the views and attitudes held by the general public towards various issues, including government and politics. It is shaped by a variety of factors including personal experiences, media coverage, and social interactions, and can influence political behavior and decision making.

Question 4

George describes himself as a moderate. "Moderate" is George's:

Accepted Answer

Ideology refers to a set of beliefs or philosophies attributed to a person or group, especially in the context of politics. When George describes himself as a moderate, he is referring to his ideological position, which typically means he holds views that are not extreme and may fall somewhere in the middle of the political spectrum.

Question 5

Support for gay marriage and/or civil unions has doubled in recent decades, at least in part because more survey respondents say that they know someone who is gay or lesbian.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that the increase in support for gay marriage and civil unions is correlated with a decrease in stigma towards the LGBTQ+ community, and this decrease in stigma is partially due to more people reporting that they know someone who is gay or lesbian. Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 6

An individual would be expressing what scholars call a "latent opinion" if asked for the first time to state a position on a complicated issue such as deficit reduction.

Accepted Answer

A latent opinion refers to an opinion that an individual may have but has not yet been expressed or articulated. When asked a complex question for the first time, such as deficit reduction, an individual may not have thought about it extensively and may hold a latent opinion.

Question 7

Scholars have shown that even in the aftermath of major events, such as the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, people rarely revise their opinions on such issues as civil liberties.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Scholars have shown that even in the...

Question 8

The main reason that few people have consistent, stable beliefs is because they are forming opinions on the spot.

Accepted Answer

Forming opinions on the spot can lead to inconsistency and lack of stability in beliefs as there may not be enough time for reflection, research or critical thinking.

Question 9

Sampling error in surveys increases when the survey questions are misleading.

Accepted Answer

Sampling error is related to the size and representativeness of the sample, not the wording of the survey questions. Misleading questions can lead to bias or inaccurate responses, but they do not directly affect the sampling error.

Question 10

When we describe where someone falls on the conservative-moderate-liberal spectrum, we are referring to their:

Accepted Answer

The conservative-moderate-liberal spectrum refers to a person's ideology, or their beliefs and values about the role of government and society. Party identification (A) may influence a person's ideology, but it is not synonymous with ideology. Policy mood (C) refers to the general public's mood or opinion on specific policy issues, not necessarily their overall ideology. Latent opinion (D) refers to an individual's unexpressed or undeveloped opinion, which is not relevant to the question. Consideration (E) refers to the process of evaluating and weighing different options, which is also not relevant to the question.

Question 11

Most people have political opinions that are similar to those of their parents.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that people have a tendency to adopt similar political beliefs to those of their parents. Family socialization plays a big role in shaping political attitudes, values, and beliefs. However, this is not always the case, as some individuals develop their political opinions through their own experiences and exposure to different ideas.

Question 12

Despite general dissatisfaction with the American health care system, there is no clear alternative that wins large amounts of support in public opinion surveys.

Accepted Answer

This statement is accurate as various surveys and polls consistently show that while many Americans are dissatisfied with the current health care system, there is no one clear alternative that is widely supported by the public.

Question 13

People who give answers that they believe interviewers want to hear are a problem for survey research because this can lead to social desirability bias.

Accepted Answer

Social desirability bias occurs when participants provide responses that they believe are socially acceptable or desirable, rather than their true opinions or behaviors. This can occur in survey research when individuals want to present themselves in a positive light, such as in a job interview. As a result, the data collected may not accurately reflect reality and can lead to invalid conclusions.

Question 14

Some beliefs, such as party identification or ideology, can change quickly in response to external events.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Some beliefs, such as party identification or...

Question 15

Early studies from the 1950s found overwhelming evidence that the public's political opinions were internally consistent and stable over time.

Accepted Answer

Early studies, such as those by Converse (1964), found that the public's political opinions were often not internally consistent and tended to change over time, challenging the notion of a stable and ideologically coherent public opinion.

Question 16

Internet polls are considered more credible than those that use random digit dialing, because Internet polls typically rely on a more advanced method of random sampling.

Accepted Answer

Internet polls often suffer from self-selection bias and may not accurately represent the broader population, whereas random digit dialing can more effectively achieve a random sample by reaching a diverse group of respondents.

Question 17

In the immediate wake of the Newtown shooting in January 2013, public opinion:

Accepted Answer

In the immediate wake of the Newtown shooting in January 2013, public opinion shifted in favor of stricter gun control. This was reflected in polls that showed an increase in support for measures such as background checks on gun buyers and a ban on high-capacity magazines. The shooting led to a national conversation about gun violence and prompted lawmakers at the state and federal level to introduce and debate gun control legislation.

Question 18

Political scientists became critical of public opinion research conducted in the 1950s because:

Accepted Answer

Political scientists became critical of public opinion research conducted in the 1950s because researchers had an overly narrow view of what public opinion should be. These early studies often focused solely on measuring specific attitudes towards political figures and issues, rather than exploring the broader beliefs and values that shape public opinion. As a result, they failed to capture the complexity and diversity of the American public's views on politics and society.

Question 19

Public opinion polls taken right after the Newtown shooting incident showed that Americans' views had not shifted much because of the incident.

Accepted Answer

Public opinion polls taken after the Newtown shooting incident showed that there was a significant increase in support for gun control measures, indicating a shift in Americans' views.

Question 20

The United States has experienced a significant increase in ideological polarization in the past thirty years.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The United States has experienced a significant...

Quiz 6: Public Opinion