Question 1

The complex set of beliefs and values that, as a whole, form a general philosophy about the government is called

Accepted Answer

A)   public opinion.
B)   political ideology.
C)   political socialization.
D)   political efficacy.
E)   political sophistication.

Question 2

Opposition to legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by ______ while support for legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   liberals; conservatives
B)   conservatives; liberals
C)   libertarians; conservatives
D)   liberals; libertarians
E)   libertarians; liberals

Question 3

People's political party preferences are primarily acquired through the influence of

Accepted Answer

A)   their families.
B)   the region of the country they inhabit.
C)   their education.
D)   the media they consume.
E)   their occupation.

Question 4

The practice of push polling involves

Accepted Answer

A)   polling services like Harris and Gallup attempting to sell their polling data to major news media organizations at higher prices during election seasons.
B)   the system of calling people during dinner and evening hours to ensure that as many people as possible will be home.
C)   the procedure of asking loaded questions in order to subtly shape the respondent's opinion.
D)   the effect of polls having to push politicians into adopting policy proposals they would not otherwise adopt.
E)   the system of repeatedly calling people in the sampling frame until they respond to the survey.

Question 5

The social desirability effect refers to

Accepted Answer

A)   the bias in surveys that comes from the repeated failure of pollsters to interview respondents who come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
B)   the strong desire that people have to express their opinions to survey researchers.
C)   the fact that respondents report what they expect the interviewer wishes to hear or whatever they think is socially acceptable rather than what they actually believe or know to be true.
D)   the impression conveyed by polls that something is important to the public when actually it is not.
E)   the tendency for people to shift their electoral support to the candidate whom public opinion polls report as the front-runner.

Question 6

What did the framers identify as the greatest source of political conflict for the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)   racial inequalities
B)   geographic differences
C)   differences between the rich and poor
D)   conflicts between central and local governments
E)   conflicts between members of different racial groups

Question 7

Pollsters use random digit dialing to gather national samples for surveys because

Accepted Answer

A)   Sampling errors are typically too low when other techniques are used.
B)   Sampling errors are typically too high when other techniques are used.
C)   There is not a complete list of all Americans that can be used to identify the population.
D)   It is the only method that allows for push polling.
E)   It is the only method that generates high levels of measurement error.

Question 8

In a liberal ideology, which of the core American values is most important?

Accepted Answer

A)   liberty
B)   democracy
C)   equality
D)   justice
E)   patriotism

Question 9

Levels of education have not been shown to affect one's political opinions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

If I decide to support a candidate because I see that he or she is the front-runner in a poll, I become an example of

Accepted Answer

A)   the bellwether effect.
B)   the illusion of saliency.
C)   the bandwagon effect.
D)   the "bounce" effect.
E)   push polling.

Question 11

A survey of 1,000 people can be effective for measuring the opinions of all Americans.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The fact that survey respondents overreport voting in elections and the frequency of their church attendance is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)   the Hawthorne effect.
B)   the coattail effect.
C)   the social desirability effect.
D)   the bandwagon effect.
E)   the median voter theorem.

Question 13

Which of the following statements about agencies of socialization is incorrect?

Accepted Answer

A)   Family, membership in social groups, and education are all important agencies of socialization.
B)   People's preference for a political party is primarily acquired through their family.
C)   An individual's religion has no impact on their political views.
D)   Attending college makes people more likely to participate in politics.
E)   Both involuntary and voluntary social groups have an impact on their members' political views.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about the ideological preferences of Americans is false?

Accepted Answer

A)   More Americans have identified themselves as conservatives than as liberals over the last twenty years.
B)   The percentage of Americans identifying themselves as liberals has increased since the mid-1990s.
C)   More Americans have identified themselves as moderates than as liberals over the last twenty years.
D)   Prior to 2000, there were almost no Americans who identified themselves as liberal.
E)   More Americans have identified themselves as liberals or conservatives than as moderates over the last twenty years.

Question 15

The median voter theorem states that

Accepted Answer

A)   the most reliable strategy for a politician to take in winning reelection is to adopt policies that are consistent with the preferences of ideologically extreme voters.
B)   the most reliable strategy for a politician to take in winning reelection is to adopt policies that are consistent with the preferences of centrist voters.
C)   the average American voter is uninformed about the details of most government policies.
D)   the average American voter is well informed about the details of most government policies.
E)   government policy should always reflect what a majority of Americans want.

Question 16

The fact that Americans strongly support the idea that governmental interference with individuals' lives and property should be kept to a minimum illustrates their commitment to

Accepted Answer

A)   anarchy.
B)   democracy.
C)   liberty.
D)   equality.
E)   socialism.

Question 17

Why does the marketplace of ideas often have a moderating effect on people's opinions?

Accepted Answer

A)   Given constant exposure to other people's ideas, it is almost impossible for one not to modify one's own viewpoints.
B)   Moderate ideas usually have the best financial backing and the greatest publicity.
C)   The most popular ideas are usually the most moderate ones.
D)   Those who shop in the marketplace of ideas typically start with moderate viewpoints.
E)   Moderate ideas are always closest to the truth and, therefore, are most successful in the marketplace of ideas.

Question 18

The controversial nature of affirmative action reveals that

Accepted Answer

A)   many Americans do not value equality.
B)   different policy preferences can be based on different practical interpretations of the same principle.
C)   Americans are forever separated by racial differences.
D)   Americans are very politically active.
E)   the policy is at odds with fundamental American values.

Question 19

The difference between a political value and a political attitude is that

Accepted Answer

A)   values are conservative while attitudes are liberal.
B)   values are liberal while attitudes are conservative.
C)   values are held for a short term while attitudes are held for a long term.
D)   values are basic principles while attitudes are specific preferences.
E)   values are specific preferences while attitudes are basic principles.

Question 20

The increased amount of information online

Accepted Answer

A)   has eliminated misinformation in public opinion.
B)   has destroyed the "filter bubbles" that many people used to be trapped inside.
C)   has decreased the gap between the haves and the have-nots in terms of political knowledge.
D)   has increased the gap between the haves and the have-nots in terms of political knowledge.
E)   has not had any effect on the gap between the haves and the have-nots in terms of political knowledge.

Exam 6: Public Opinion

People's political party preferences are primarily acquired through the influence of

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The social desirability effect refers to

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Levels of education have not been shown to affect one's political opinions.

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The practice of push polling involves

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Which of the following statements about the ideological preferences of Americans is false?

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The complex set of beliefs and values that, as a whole, form a general philosophy about the government is called

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In a liberal ideology, which of the core American values is most important?

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The controversial nature of affirmative action reveals that

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The median voter theorem states that

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A survey of 1,000 people can be effective for measuring the opinions of all Americans.

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Opposition to legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by ______ while support for legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by ______.

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The increased amount of information online

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What did the framers identify as the greatest source of political conflict for the United States?

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The difference between a political value and a political attitude is that

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Why does the marketplace of ideas often have a moderating effect on people's opinions?

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If I decide to support a candidate because I see that he or she is the front-runner in a poll, I become an example of

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Which of the following statements about agencies of socialization is incorrect?

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Pollsters use random digit dialing to gather national samples for surveys because

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The fact that Americans strongly support the idea that governmental interference with individuals' lives and property should be kept to a minimum illustrates their commitment to

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The fact that survey respondents overreport voting in elections and the frequency of their church attendance is an example of

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Opposition to legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by while support for legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by .

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