Question 1

Which of the following does NOT describe public opinion?
A) elusive and fragile
B) combustible and changing
C) fleeting and vulnerable
D) staid and immutable

Accepted Answer

Public opinion is known for being changeable and influenced by various factors, making it elusive, fragile, combustible, changing, fleeting, and vulnerable. It is not typically described as staid and immutable, which means unchanging over time.

Question 2

As a general rule, those who examine public opinion recognize that
A) it is easy to move people toward a strong opinion.
B) it is difficult to move people toward a strong opinion.
C) it is easy to move people toward a weak opinion.
D) it is difficult to move them away from a weak opinion.

Accepted Answer

It is generally recognized that moving people toward a strong opinion is difficult because individuals often have pre-existing beliefs or biases that make them resistant to change.

Question 3

Which is NOT a description of public opinion?
A) a term describing an ill-defined, mercurial and changeable group of individual judgments
B) not the name of something, but the classification of a number of something.
C) the aggregate of many individual opinions on a particular issue that affects a group of people
D) trying to influence what an individual thinks about a topic

Accepted Answer

Public opinion refers to the collective attitudes or beliefs of the population on a particular issue or topics, not the act of influencing individual thoughts. Choices A, B, and C all describe aspects of public opinion, whereas D describes an action (influence) rather than a characteristic of public opinion itself.

Question 4

The primary focus of the practice of public relations is:
A) trying to influence an individual's attitude - how he or she thinks on a given topic
B) tracking public opinion
C) burning incense to the unknown god of public opinion
D) detecting vulnerabilities of culture driven by media, fueled by the Internet and dominated by celebrity

Accepted Answer

The primary focus of public relations is to influence an individual's or a group's attitude towards a particular topic, idea, or organization. This is achieved through strategic communication and media outreach to shape perceptions and encourage desired understandings or actions.

Question 5

For a long time, scholars believed attitudes were
A) actions people take based on an opinion.
B) predispositions to think a certain way about a certain topic.
C) judgments people make after people take action.
D) responses people have to strong opinions.

Accepted Answer

Attitudes are generally understood as predispositions or tendencies to think, feel, or act in a certain way towards a particular object or topic. This definition aligns with choice B, indicating that attitudes are not merely actions or judgments post-action, but rather the underlying predispositions that guide how individuals perceive and react to various subjects.

Question 6

Research indicates that an attitude is likely
A) a bias toward something.
B) an evaluation made about a specific problem or issue.
C) a bias against something.
D) an aggregate opinion.

Accepted Answer

An attitude is typically an evaluation made about a specific problem or issue, reflecting a person's positive or negative feelings towards it.

Question 7

Experiences that influence attitudes include
A) religion.
B) social class.
C) educational.
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

All of the above options (religion, social class, and education) are experiences that can significantly influence an individual's attitudes. These factors shape perspectives, beliefs, and behaviors, contributing to the development of personal and social attitudes.

Question 8

If your parents have owned only SUVs, when you go to purchase your first vehicle as a new parent, it is likely that you will first consider buying an SUV because your attitude has been influenced most by the ________ characteristic.
A) cultural
B) familial
C) personal
D) race

Accepted Answer

Familial influence is significant in shaping attitudes and behaviors, including preferences and decisions such as vehicle purchases. Growing up in a family that exclusively owns SUVs can lead to a predisposition towards choosing an SUV for oneself, reflecting the impact of family on personal choices.

Question 9

Former Vice President Spiro T. Agnew called ________ the "silent majority."
A) people who are strongly committed
B) people who are strongly uncommitted
C) people who are in the middle
D) people who have cognitive dissonance

Accepted Answer

The term "silent majority" refers to the large group of people who do not express their opinions publicly and are considered to be in the middle of the political spectrum. Spiro T. Agnew used this term to appeal to those who did not actively participate in the political discourse but were believed to support his and President Nixon's policies.

Question 10

We credit ________ with developing the theory of cognitive dissonance.
A) Leon Festinger
B) Harwood Childs
C) Joseph Kraft
D) Herman C. Boyle

Accepted Answer

Leon Festinger is credited with developing the theory of cognitive dissonance, which is a concept in psychology that describes the discomfort experienced when holding conflicting cognitions.

Question 11

The theory of cognitive dissonance indicates that people
A) tend to seek information contrary to their opinions.
B) tend to seek information that supports their points of view.
C) tend to avoid information that crystallizes their points of view.
D) tend to avoid information that reinforces their opinions.

Accepted Answer

The theory of cognitive dissonance suggests that people have a natural tendency to seek consistency among their beliefs and opinions. When there is a discrepancy, individuals strive to reduce the dissonance and avoid situations or information that would increase it. Therefore, people are more likely to seek out information that supports their existing beliefs and opinions, rather than information that contradicts them.

Question 12

Social judgment theory suggests
A) people don't have a range of opinions on a specific topic.
B) people have a range of opinions on a specific topic that is not anchored by a clear attitude.
C) people don't have a "latitude of acceptance" within which they may change their opinion.
D) people have a "latitude of acceptance" within which they may change their opinion.

Accepted Answer

Social judgment theory posits that individuals have a "latitude of acceptance" for opinions and messages, within which persuasion can occur if the message falls within this range.

Question 13

Persuading a person to move from a latent state of attitude formation to a more aware state and, finally, to an active state is a matter of ________.
A) personality
B) dissonance
C) motivation
D) chance

Accepted Answer

This process describes the role of motivation in moving an individual from a latent or dormant state of attitude formation to a more conscious and finally to an active state of behavior or decision-making.

Question 14

In the hierarchy of needs theory, the second level focuses on
A) love needs.
B) self-aggrandizement.
C) self-actualization.
D) safety needs.

Accepted Answer

The second level in Maslow's hierarchy of needs is safety needs, which come after physiological needs.

Question 15

"Being all you can be" is what Abraham Maslow would likely describe as fulfilling the ________ need.
A) self-actualization
B) self-esteem
C) safety
D) physiological

Accepted Answer

Abraham Maslow would likely describe "being all you can be" as fulfilling the self-actualization need, which is the highest level in Maslow's hierarchy of needs. This level pertains to realizing one's potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth, and peak experiences.

Question 16

The ________ model addresses what motivates people to change their attitude.
A) cognitive consonance
B) persuasion
C) elaboration likelihood
D) "muddled middle"

Accepted Answer

The elaboration likelihood model (ELM) specifically addresses how and why people might be persuaded to change their attitudes, focusing on the motivation and ability of an individual to process a persuasive message.

Question 17

Classic persuasion theory indicates that a person who carefully considers an argument alertly, actively, and creatively is
A) in a heuristic mode.
B) in a cognitive dissonant mode.
C) in a systematic mode.
D) in a differentiation mode.

Accepted Answer

Classic persuasion theory, particularly the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), suggests that when a person carefully considers an argument alertly, actively, and creatively, they are engaging in the central route to persuasion, which is associated with systematic processing. This mode involves deep, thoughtful consideration of the arguments presented.

Question 18

From classic persuasion theory, we learn that a person who skims the surface and doesn't focus on the intricacies of an argument is
A) in a heuristic mode.
B) in a cognitive dissonant mode.
C) in a systematic mode.
D) In a differentiation mode.

Accepted Answer

A person who skims the surface and doesn't focus on the intricacies of an argument is in a heuristic mode of processing. This mode involves using simple rules or shortcuts (heuristics) to make decisions or judgments, rather than engaging in deep, systematic analysis.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT one of the types of "evidence" that will persuade?
A) facts
B) emotions
C) personalizing
D) activity

Accepted Answer

Activity is not typically classified as a type of evidence that persuades in the context of argumentation or rhetoric. Persuasion is usually achieved through facts, appealing to emotions, or personalizing the argument to make it more relatable to the audience.

Question 20

Which of the "Laws of Public Opinion" is described by the following: "Events of unusual magnitude are likely to swing public opinion temporarily from one extreme to another. Opinion doesn't become stabilized until the implications of events are seen in some perspective."
A) Opinion is highly sensitive to important events
B) Opinion is generally determined more by events than by words - unless those words are themselves interpreted as an event
C) At critical times, people become more sensitive to the adequacy of their leadership. If they have confidence it in, they are willing to assign more than usual responsibility to it; if they lack confidence in it, they are less tolerant than usual.
D) Once self-interest is involved, opinions are slow to change.

Accepted Answer

This statement describes how public opinion is highly sensitive to significant events, indicating that it can swing dramatically in response to such events until a more stable perspective is achieved. This aligns with the idea that opinion is highly sensitive to important events.

Quiz 4: Public Opinion

Which of the following does NOT describe public opinion?

As a general rule, those who examine public opinion recognize that

Which is NOT a description of public opinion?

The primary focus of the practice of public relations is:

For a long time, scholars believed attitudes were

Research indicates that an attitude is likely

Experiences that influence attitudes include

If your parents have owned only SUVs, when you go to purchase your first vehicle as a new parent, it is likely that you will first consider buying an SUV because your attitude has been influenced most by the ________ characteristic.

Former Vice President Spiro T. Agnew called ________ the "silent majority."

We credit ________ with developing the theory of cognitive dissonance.

The theory of cognitive dissonance indicates that people

Social judgment theory suggests

Persuading a person to move from a latent state of attitude formation to a more aware state and, finally, to an active state is a matter of ________.

In the hierarchy of needs theory, the second level focuses on

"Being all you can be" is what Abraham Maslow would likely describe as fulfilling the ________ need.

The ________ model addresses what motivates people to change their attitude.

Classic persuasion theory indicates that a person who carefully considers an argument alertly, actively, and creatively is

From classic persuasion theory, we learn that a person who skims the surface and doesn't focus on the intricacies of an argument is

Which of the following is NOT one of the types of "evidence" that will persuade?

Which of the "Laws of Public Opinion" is described by the following: "Events of unusual magnitude are likely to swing public opinion temporarily from one extreme to another. Opinion doesn't become stabilized until the implications of events are seen in some perspective."