Question 1

"Retail politics" refers to

Accepted Answer

A)   the fact that voters always vote for candidates who best represent their own self-interest.
B)   attempts made by political machines in the nineteenth century to buy votes from citizens through cash payments.
C)   debates about how extensively government should regulate the manufacture and sale of consumer goods.
D)   campaigns where candidates meet citizens face-to-face to discuss politics.
E)   government-run auctions to sell public property.

Question 2

Research into public opinion and public policy has shown that

Accepted Answer

A)   every citizen has an equally strong influence over politics and public policy decisions.
B)   more affluent and more educated citizens have a disproportionate influence over politics and public-policy decisions.
C)   less affluent and less educated citizens have a disproportionate influence over politics and public policy decisions.
D)   nonvoters have a disproportionate influence over politics and public policy decisions.
E)   the opinions of members of the public have no influence whatsoever over politics and public policy decisions.

Question 3

If a person does not know anything about a proposed piece of legislation but supports it because Barack Obama endorsed it, we would say the person

Accepted Answer

A)   fell prey to the illusion of saliency.
B)   was an example of the bandwagon effect.
C)   committed a sampling error.
D)   was an example of the bellwether effect.
E)   reached his or her decision through the use of an informational shortcut.

Question 4

The small group selected by pollsters to represent the entire population is called the

Accepted Answer

A)   validity quotient.
B)   reliability quotient.
C)   sample.
D)   quota.
E)   hypothesis.

Question 5

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

A)   a push poll.
B)   a bandwagon poll.
C)   a saliency illusion.
D)   a selection bias.
E)   a nonresponse bias.

Question 6

______ are used by researchers to measure public opinion on sensitive issues without letting respondents know what information is being sought.

Accepted Answer

A)   Simple random samples
B)   List experiments
C)   Push polls
D)   Bandwagon effects
E)   Face-to-face surveys

Question 7

One recent survey showed that two-thirds of Americans believe the government is 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 the government is spending "too little" on "welfare." This example shows that

Accepted Answer

A)   selection bias must always be considered when interpreting the results from a poll.
B)   small differences in the wording of a question can lead to very different response patterns.
C)   the findings from some polling agencies should not be trusted.
D)   polling can never be used to understand public opinion on any issue.
E)   the results from push polls are often inconsistent.

Question 8

The concept of a marketplace of ideas refers to

Accepted Answer

A)   important changes in copyright and patent laws that have restricted Americans' access to free information.
B)   the competition between varying opinions and ideas that are aired in public forums.
C)   the use of opinion pollsters who market a politician's speeches, ideas, and votes.
D)   the explosion of information brought on by the Internet and other advances in electronic communication.
E)   the elimination of government regulations on broadcast media such as radio and television.

Question 9

Which of the following was not part of the Bush administration's effort to maintain support for its war on terror?

Accepted Answer

A)   presidential speeches
B)   press conferences
C)   press releases
D)   media appearances by administration officials
E)   donations to academic institutions

Question 10

Push polls are scientific surveys designed to assess the public's support for a policy or candidate by using a probability sample.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

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?

Accepted Answer

David Hume's statement that government r...

Question 12

The transition many white southerners made from the Democratic to the Republican Party is a good example of

Accepted Answer

A)   the changes in political conditions and circumstances in the South, rather than in opinions or values.
B)   the growing conservative ideology in the South.
C)   the growing liberal ideology in the South.
D)   the rise of labor unions and other associations in the South.
E)   the growth in patriotism in the South.

Question 13

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

A value is a principle or standard that ...

Question 14

During the formation of an individual's initial political orientation, the influence of family counts for very little.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Cell phones and caller ID have dramatically reduced the problem of selection bias in public opinion surveys.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

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

A)   probability sampling
B)   illusion of salience
C)   random dialing
D)   selection bias
E)   push polling

Question 17

Conservatives are more likely than liberals to support

Accepted Answer

A)   government regulation of business.
B)   abortion rights.
C)   school prayer.
D)   the expansion of government activity.
E)   gay rights.

Question 18

The United States is a nation without political ideologies.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Which of the following best characterizes the Clinton White House's attempts to influence public opinion?

Accepted Answer

A)   The Clinton White House used techniques similar to those used in election campaigns to bolster popular enthusiasm for White House initiatives.
B)   The Clinton White House made no attempts to influence public support for White House initiatives.
C)   Clinton refused to employ any political consultants or pollsters in his administration.
D)   The Clinton White House almost never communicated with representatives from the departments of the executive branch about how to coordinate the president's public relations efforts.
E)   Despite the advice of some of his supporters, Clinton refused to establish a political "war room" to plan his administration's public relations efforts.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

A)   Public opinion always shifts in opposition to government policy once the policy has been implemented.
B)   Public opinion always shifts in favor of government policy once the policy has been implemented.
C)   Shifts in public opinion almost never lead to changes in government policy.
D)   Shifts in public opinion always lead to changes in government policy.
E)   Although there is no one-to-one correlation between public opinion and government policy, shifts in public opinion on particular issues frequently lead to changes in government policy.

Exam 6: Public Opinion

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.

Correct Answer
verified

The small group selected by pollsters to represent the entire population is called the

Correct Answer
verified

During the formation of an individual's initial political orientation, the influence of family counts for very little.

Correct Answer
verified

Push polls are scientific surveys designed to assess the public's support for a policy or candidate by using a probability sample.

Correct Answer
verified

If a person does not know anything about a proposed piece of legislation but supports it because Barack Obama endorsed it, we would say the person

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following best characterizes the Clinton White House's attempts to influence public opinion?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following was not part of the Bush administration's effort to maintain support for its war on terror?

Correct Answer
verified

The concept of a marketplace of ideas refers to

Correct Answer
verified

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

Correct Answer
verified

______ are used by researchers to measure public opinion on sensitive issues without letting respondents know what information is being sought.

Correct Answer
verified

"Retail politics" refers to

Correct Answer
verified

Cell phones and caller ID have dramatically reduced the problem of selection bias in public opinion surveys.

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

The transition many white southerners made from the Democratic to the Republican Party is a good example of

Correct Answer
verified

Conservatives are more likely than liberals to support

Correct Answer
verified

The United States is a nation without political ideologies.

Correct Answer
verified

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

Correct Answer
verified

Research into public opinion and public policy has shown that

Correct Answer
verified

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?

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
David Hume's statement that government r...
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Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
A value is a principle or standard that ...
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Exam 6: Public Opinion

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.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The small group selected by pollsters to represent the entire population is called the

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

During the formation of an individual's initial political orientation, the influence of family counts for very little.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Push polls are scientific surveys designed to assess the public's support for a policy or candidate by using a probability sample.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

If a person does not know anything about a proposed piece of legislation but supports it because Barack Obama endorsed it, we would say the person

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following best characterizes the Clinton White House's attempts to influence public opinion?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following was not part of the Bush administration's effort to maintain support for its war on terror?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The concept of a marketplace of ideas refers to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

______ are used by researchers to measure public opinion on sensitive issues without letting respondents know what information is being sought.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

"Retail politics" refers to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Cell phones and caller ID have dramatically reduced the problem of selection bias in public opinion surveys.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The transition many white southerners made from the Democratic to the Republican Party is a good example of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Conservatives are more likely than liberals to support

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The United States is a nation without political ideologies.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Research into public opinion and public policy has shown that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIDavid Hume's statement that government r...View AnswerShow Answer

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIA value is a principle or standard that ...View AnswerShow Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
David Hume's statement that government r...
View Answer

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
A value is a principle or standard that ...
View Answer