Question 1

Gerard's beliefs about immigration are predominantly pro-immigration.He believes that the government should act to increase opportunities for people around the world to come to America legally.He is especially sympathetic to immigrants seeking to enter the country so that they can give their families a better chance to live productive lives.He also has a handful of ideas that are supportive of stronger border-control policies.Under normal circumstances,how would he be expected to answer survey questions about immigration policy?

Accepted Answer

Based on Gerard's beliefs about immigration, he would be expected to answer survey questions about immigration policy in ways that are sympathetic to immigrants. This is because his beliefs are predominantly pro-immigration and he is sympathetic to immigrants seeking to enter the country to provide better opportunities for their families.

Question 2

How do liberals differ from populists?

Accepted Answer

Liberals and populists both support active government roles in promoting social equality and economic welfare, but populists also tend to support government involvement in promoting social morality.

Question 3

How do libertarians differ from conservatives?

Accepted Answer

Libertarians typically advocate for minimal government intervention in both economic and social matters, while conservatives often support limited government in economic affairs but may endorse government involvement in promoting social morality.

Question 4

How do we know that the opinions of people who call in to radio talk shows are not typical of most Americans?

Accepted Answer

People who call in to radio talk shows are self-selected individuals and may have different opinions, beliefs, and values from the general population. Therefore, they cannot be considered a representative sample of most Americans.

Question 5

As a veteran,Jillian generally supports congressional appropriations for military expenditures.It pains her to think of American troops in the field without the best military hardware available.However,of late,she thinks that the top priority for the country should be to balance the budget.She favors across-the-board cuts in spending,including military spending.You could definitely say that spending cuts are at the forefront of Jillian's thinking.Under the conditions described in this scenario,how would Jillian likely answer this survey question: Can America afford to cut back on defense spending?

Accepted Answer

Based on the scenario, Jillian believes that across-the-board cuts in spending, including military spending, are necessary to balance the budget. Therefore, she would likely answer yes to the survey question as she believes that America can afford to cut back on defense spending.

Question 6

The influence of which of the following agents of socialization best explains why a young adult might tend to be distrustful of politicians?

Accepted Answer

Movies and other forms of popular entertainment often portray politicians as corrupt, which can influence a young adult's perception and trust towards politicians. This exposure to negative portrayals of politicians through popular media can shape one's political attitudes and beliefs.

Question 7

What happens to polling data when members of Congress begin urgently debating a potential change in policy direction?

Accepted Answer

When members of Congress begin urgently debating a potential change in policy direction, polling data are likely to indicate that at least part of the public is interested in the congressional debate. This is because such a debate brings the issue to the forefront of public discourse, and the media is likely to cover it extensively. However, the degree and intensity of public interest may depend on factors such as the salience of the issue, the level of partisan polarization, and the perceived implications of the policy change. Therefore, polling data may not necessarily show a majority of the electorate being keenly interested in the debate, nor would they remain unchanged or accurately reflect the outcome of the debate. As such, option B is the best choice.

Question 8

What distinguishes generational effects from period effects?

Accepted Answer

Generational effects refer to the impact of historical events or social changes on the attitudes and values of younger generations, while period effects refer to the influence that a specific event or social change has on all generations at a particular point in time. Therefore, Choice A best distinguishes between the two effects.

Question 9

The chapter's "Unresolved Debate" box discusses the ways in which citizens with strong beliefs can sway the decisions of government.Why is it harder for government to ignore these citizens than citizens who may not have such strong beliefs?

Accepted Answer

Citizens with strong beliefs are more likely than other citizens to participate in the political process, which makes it harder for the government to ignore them. They are often more vocal and active in advocating for their beliefs and may organize protests or rallies to make their views heard. This can lead to greater pressure on elected officials to take action on these issues, as they risk losing support or facing backlash from these engaged citizens if they fail to do so. Additionally, citizens with strong beliefs may also have greater knowledge and expertise on specific issues, making their input more valuable to policymakers.

Question 10

The president,members of Congress,presidential candidates,and the media are all talking about falling test scores and the failures of public education.Not a day goes by that the issue isn't front and center.Urgent debates on the need for reform are ever present.Not surprising,when a polling organization conducted a survey that asked,"What do you think is the most important problem facing the country today?" 35 percent replied "education." What is the best explanation for this polling response?

Accepted Answer

Opinion leaders, such as the president, members of Congress, and the media, influence public opinion by consistently discussing and highlighting issues like education, thereby shaping what the public considers important.

Question 11

Lucinda grows up in a politically active household,where both her parents vote,contribute to campaigns,listen to nightly news broadcasts,and read weekly news magazines.They involve Lucinda in their discussions of the political events of the day,often commenting about the social and economic policies that they favor.In time,Lucinda learns that her parents favor government bailouts of troubled national industries and that it should act to improve public education.As she matures,she adopts the political party affiliation of her parents.What process has Lucinda undergone?

Accepted Answer

Lucinda has undergone political socialization, which refers to the process by which individuals acquire their political beliefs and values through their experiences, interactions, and upbringing. In this case, Lucinda's parents played a significant role in shaping her political ideology by involving her in discussions of political events and expressing their own views. As a result, Lucinda adopted the political party affiliation of her parents.

Question 12

In your American government class,you are discussing shifts in public opinion.You are asked to imagine that a recent Pew Research Center poll reported a sudden drop of 40 percentage points in the trust level that Americans have for their government.What explanation would you offer to decipher this sudden drop?

Accepted Answer

The sudden drop in trust level for the government is likely a reaction to recent events that upheaved the public and caused their opinions to shift in the same direction all at once. This could be due to a variety of factors such as scandals, political turmoil, or significant policy changes that have caused mistrust and dissatisfaction among the population.

Question 13

According to a Gallup poll,Americans over 55 are much less likely than younger Americans to report that they are politically independent.Instead these older Americans seem to have grown more secure in their identities as Democrats or Republicans.What type of effect likely explains this research finding?

Accepted Answer

A life-cycle effect refers to how people's attitudes and behaviors change as they age and move through different stages of life. As people age, they may become more set in their ways and more comfortable identifying with a particular political party. This could explain why older Americans are less likely to identify as politically independent. The other options do not seem to be as relevant to this particular research finding.

Question 14

A pollster is interested in measuring how intensely people feel about an increased tax on hotel rooms to offset the price of the construction of a new sewer system.Which type of survey question would best assess the intensity of voters' opposition to this proposed tax?

Accepted Answer

Questions with five to seven answer options, ranging from strongly favor to strongly oppose, would provide a range of responses that would allow for the measurement of the intensity of opposition to the proposed tax. Simple yes-or-no questions or approve-or-disapprove questions may not provide enough nuance to accurately measure intensity of feelings. Interviewee-bias measures and demographic-information measures are not relevant to this particular question.

Question 15

When conducting surveys,why is the wording of questions a concern?

Accepted Answer

The wording of questions can lead respondents towards a particular answer, introducing bias and affecting the survey's validity.

Question 16

After reading about the challenges of conducting accurate surveys in the textbook's "How Do We Know?" box about gauging opinions,you know that some survey questions are more objective than others.Select the most objectively worded questions from among the following.

Accepted Answer

The question "What is your opinion of underage people consuming alcohol?" is the most objectively worded as it does not lead the respondent towards a particular answer or imply a judgment.

Question 17

Of the following events,which would political scientists consider least likely to have a generational effect on people's political outlooks?

Accepted Answer

Childhood leukemia is a health issue and therefore not directly related to politics or government policy. The other events (Great Depression, civil rights movement, 9/11 terrorist attacks, and Reagan Revolution) all had significant political and social impacts that are likely to have influenced people's political outlooks, and thus have a generational effect.

Question 18

The chapter's "Unresolved Debate" box highlights the research of University of Michigan scholar Philip Converse.Given what you know about Converse's research,with which of the following statements would he be likely to agree?

Accepted Answer

Converse's research suggests that a majority of Americans lack the capacity for well-developed, informed political thought and are not interested in political issues. He referred to these individuals as "inattentive" citizens.

Question 19

Michael and Jaycee,a married couple with three children,often avoid discussing politics with each other or with their children because their political views are very different.They are embarrassed by political discussions,knowing that they are likely to disagree on many,many issues.Given this scenario,what kind of influence are Michael and Jaycee likely to have on the political lives of their children?

Accepted Answer

Michael and Jaycee avoid discussing politics with each other and their children, indicating that they are not likely to convey a specific political worldview to their children. The fact that they often disagree on political issues means that they are not likely to have a significant influence on their children's opinions or political worldview. Therefore, it is unlikely that the children will inherit the political partisanship of their parents, and they may develop their own political beliefs as they grow older. There is not enough information to suggest that Michael and Jaycee will increase their children's chances of developing coherent worldviews.

Question 20

People's views,in combination with what other factor,influence their responses to survey questions about in-the-news issues like gun control?

Accepted Answer

People's views are influenced by the latest stories and ideas they have heard in the news. This can impact their responses to survey questions on gun control or other in-the-news issues. The media has significant power in shaping public opinion, and people can be influenced by the framing and emphasis of news stories.

Quiz 7: Public Opinion