Question 1

Public opinion is best defined as:

Accepted Answer

Public opinion refers to what the general public thinks or feels about government and politics. It is a measure of the collective beliefs, attitudes, and sentiments held by the people towards political issues and policymakers at a given point in time. Public opinion is not necessarily thoroughly informed, nor is it always based on core values or beliefs that remain stable throughout one's life. A random survey of voters during an election may provide information about public opinion, but it is not a comprehensive measure.

Question 2

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

False

Question 3

People can typically explain the reasons for their political opinions,even on complicated issues such as global warming.

Accepted Answer

Most people struggle to articulate the reasons for their political opinions on complex issues like global warming due to a lack of deep understanding and reliance on simplified narratives or partisan cues.

Question 4

People often form opinions on the spot,meaning that:

Accepted Answer

People often form opinions on the spot based on what they have recently seen or heard, without necessarily relying on their principles or having well-informed opinions. This is why the media and other opinion-shaping forces can have such a powerful influence on public opinion.

Question 5

Most people have political opinions that are similar to those of their parents because research shows that an individual's interactions with others while growing up can have a significant influence on an individual's political opinions later in life.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that family relationships and interactions, as well as exposure to political discussions and values at a young age, can shape an individual's political beliefs and ideologies. Additionally, individuals may be more likely to affiliate with the same political party as their parents due to socialization and shared values.

Question 6

Public opinion is worth examining because it helps explain the behavior of candidates,political parties,and other political actors.

Accepted Answer

Public opinion is a significant factor in shaping political behavior and decision-making as political actors aim to appeal to the preferences and attitudes of the electorate. It is therefore worth examining in order to gain insight into the strategies and actions of political parties, candidates, and other actors.

Question 7

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

People who give answers they believe interviewers want to hear are more likely to respond in a socially desirable way, which can skew the results of survey research. This is known as social desirability bias.

Question 8

The regulation of broadcast media by the Federal Communications Commission reflects the assumption that the airways are public property.

Accepted Answer

The FCC's regulation of broadcast media is based on the principle that the electromagnetic spectrum is a finite public resource which must be managed in the public interest, convenience, and necessity. Therefore, the assumption is that the airwaves are public property, and the government has the responsibility to regulate and allocate its use.

Question 9

Public opinion research shows that broad beliefs such as what a person wants from government:

Accepted Answer

Public opinion research has shown that broad beliefs, such as what a person wants from government, tend to form early in life. These beliefs can then be influenced or reinforced over time, but they are generally stable throughout a person's life.

Question 10

A major problem with slanted news coverage is that it can never be objective,which makes it more difficult for the public to make informed political decisions.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A major problem with slanted news coverage...

Question 11

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...

Question 12

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 is an opinion that a person holds but has not yet expressed or been asked to express. Since deficit reduction is a complicated issue, an individual may have an opinion on it but may not have had the opportunity or reason to express it before being asked.

Question 13

Which of the following is a reason that public opinion matters in understanding American government?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is a reason...

Question 14

A person's ideology at age twenty is generally a good predictor of that same person's ideology at age forty.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that people's political ideologies tend to remain stable and consistent over time, and that attitudes and beliefs formed in early adulthood can be strong predictors of later views. However, it is important to note that some individuals may experience significant changes in their political beliefs and perspectives throughout their lives.

Question 15

Despite arguments to the contrary,there is no evidence that the Internet contributes to a better informed citizenry.

Accepted Answer

The question states that "there is no evidence that the Internet contributes to a better informed citizenry." This means that the Internet does not help people become more informed.

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

This statement is false. Internet polls may suffer from selection bias and may not reflect the views of the entire population, while random digit dialing ensures a more representative sample of the population. Internet polls also require access to the internet, which may exclude certain groups of people.

Question 17

One of the most important ways that the media influence people is through their decisions of what to cover.This kind of filtering is practically unavoidable.

Accepted Answer

The media have limited resources and must choose what stories to cover based on what they perceive to be the most newsworthy, timely, and relevant to their audience. This can influence the public's perceptions and attitudes towards certain issues or events.

Question 18

Most people tend to form their political opinions "on the spot," based on considerations that come to mind immediately.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that people often rely on heuristics or mental shortcuts to form their political opinions, and these heuristics may be based on immediate considerations, such as emotions, party affiliation, or the stance of a trusted leader. However, some people also engage in more reflective and deliberative thinking, considering a range of sources and viewpoints before forming their political opinions.

Question 19

Liberal-conservative ideology is a good example of:

Accepted Answer

Liberal-conservative ideology is a stable opinion because it is a well-defined and enduring set of beliefs and values that people hold consistently over time. While individuals may change their views on specific issues within this framework, the overall ideology remains relatively constant. It is not a partisan opinion because it is not tied to a specific political party, nor is it an evolving opinion that changes significantly over time. It also is not a latent or generational opinion, as it is a widely held and easily identifiable political perspective.

Question 20

Deregulation of media content occurred because Congress believed station owners were doing a good job in their role as public trustees to provide fair and unbiased information.

Accepted Answer

Deregulation of media content occurred mainly due to the belief that market competition would result in better programming and more choices for consumers, not necessarily because Congress believed station owners were doing a good job as public trustees.

Quiz 5: Public Opinion and the Media