American Democracy Now 4th Edition Harrison
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Chapter 06
Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Multiple Choice Questions
1. (p. 190) The process by which individuals acquire their opinions is called
A. popular culture.
B. social communication.
C. socioeconomic change.
D. political socialization.
E. political assimilation.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 1
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Political Socialization and Civic Participation
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
2. (p. 191) Studies indicate that children whose parents participate in civic life are ________ to do so themselves.
A. about as likely
B. more likely
C. less likely
D. much less likely
E. None of these answers is correct.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 1
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Political Socialization and Civic Participation
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
3. (p. 191) Which of the following political socialization agents has the overall greatest impact on forming political beliefs?
A. demographic characteristics
B. political leaders
C. groups
D. peers
E. school
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 1
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Political Socialization and Civic Participation
4. (p. 191) Which factors have social scientists argued exert the strongest influence on political socialization?
A. family and school
B. family and the media
C. school and the media
D. school and civic participation
E. civic participation and the media
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 1
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Political Socialization and Civic Participation
5. (p. 192) Which socialization agent has the first major impact on a child?
A. peers
B. church
C. political leaders
D. family
E. community leaders
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Remember
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Political Socialization and Civic Participation
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
6. (p. 193) Since 1956, the first- through twelfth-grade Weekly Reader student poll has correctly predicted the outcome of every presidential election. What is the best explanation for this?
A. Children mimic that behavior of their parents.
B. The media have a strong influence on children.
C. Stratified sampling is used.
D. It is a highly effective random sample.
E. Children are likely to vote like the majority of their community, therefore making the poll an accurate predictor.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
7. (p. 193) Which of the following is NOT a way in which the media contributes to political socialization of Americans?
A. The media aid in shaping societal norms.
B. The media help determine the national agenda.
C. The media educate the public about policy issues.
D. The media play a stronger role than any other agent of socialization.
E. The media can skew people's perception of public policy priorities.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
8. (p. 193) When are children in the United States first exposed to socialization by being encouraged to believe in democracy and express patriotism?
A. preschool
B. kindergarten
C. elementary school
D. middle school
E. high school
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Remember
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
9. (p. 193) White Protestants are MOST likely to vote
A. Independent.
B. Democrat.
C. Republican.
D. Libertarian.
E. None of these answers is correct.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Remember
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
10. (p. 194) Among white voters, a large proportion of highly religious people are
A. Republican.
B. Democrat.
C. Independent.
D. inactive in politics.
E. more likely to switch back and forth between parties.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
11. (p. 194) No matter how religious they are, ________ are likely to identify themselves as Democrats.
A. white Americans
B. African Americans
C. Asian Americans
D. Hispanic Americans
E. Native Americans
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
12. (p. 194) The largest proportion of nonreligious Americans are
A. Republican.
B. Democrat.
C. Independent.
D. inactive in politics.
E. more likely to switch back and forth between parties.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
13. (p. 195) According to the Gallup poll cited in the text, when asked if they considered themselves pro-choice or pro-life,
A. most respondents did not give a preference.
B. a substantial majority of respondents stated they were pro-choice.
C. a substantial majority of respondents stated they were pro-life.
D. the respondents were about evenly split between pro-choice and pro-life.
E. most respondents did not understand the question.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Remember
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
14. (p. 196) The primary function of peers as socialization agents is to
A. challenge our ingrained perspectives from childhood.
B. prompt us to conform to societal norms.
C. lead us to embrace diversity.
D. encourage us to explore new ways of thinking.
E. reinforce existing beliefs and attitudes.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 3
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
15. (p. 196) The increased priority among average Americans for wage equality demonstrates the prominent role that the ________ plays in shaping Americans' views.
A. speaker of the House
B. House majority leader
C. House minority leader
D. president
E. vice president
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Remember
Difficulty: 1
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
16. (p. 196) Whites, African Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans hold ________ political views.
A. identical
B. very similar
C. somewhat similar
D. different
E. None of these answers is correct.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
17. (p. 197) Out of the following groups, which youth cohort is the most politically engaged?
A. whites
B. African Americans
C. Native Americans
D. Latinos
E. Asian Americans
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
18. (p. 197) Out of the following groups, which youth cohort is more likely to be involved in community activities?
A. whites
B. African Americans
C. Native Americans
D. Latinos
E. Asian Americans
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
19. (p. 197) Which youth cohort, out of the following groups, is the most likely to have engaged in political protests?
A. whites
B. African Americans
C. Native Americans
D. Latinos
E. Asian Americans
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
20. (p. 198) Which youth cohort, out of the following groups, is LEAST likely to have engaged in political protests?
A. whites
B. African Americans
C. Native Americans
D. Latinos
E. Asian Americans
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
21. (p. 198) Public polls and voting behavior indicate that men and women have ________ views on many issues.
A. largely identical
B. very similar
C. somewhat similar
D. somewhat different
E. very different
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
22. (p. 198) Which presidential election first revealed the existence of the gender gap?
A. 1968
B. 1976
C. 1980
D. 1984
E. 1992
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Remember
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
23. (p. 198) Women are more likely to vote than men in every age group EXCEPT
A. those under 25.
B. those aged 25-34.
C. those aged 35-44.
D. those aged 45-54.
E. those over 55.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
24. (p. 198) On the issue of _______, men's and women's opinions differ very little.
A. gun ownership
B. abortion
C. government activism
D. gender equality
E. women's rights
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
25. (p. 198) Men are about ________ more likely to favor the death penalty than women.
A. 5 percent
B. 10 percent
C. 15 percent
D. 20 percent
E. 25 percent
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Remember
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
26. (p. 198) In which of the following years was President Obama's approval rating the highest?
A. 2009
B. 2010
C. 2011
D. 2012
E. 2013
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Remember
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
27. (p. 198) Polls measuring approval of the way President Obama handles his job show that
A. men consistently give the president a higher rating than women do.
B. women consistently give the president a higher rating than men do.
C. men and women give the president essentially the same approval rating.
D. men gave the president a higher approval rating than women did until 2011, when the trend switched.
E. women gave the president a higher approval rating than men did until 2011, when the trend switched.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
28. (p. 199) As compared to men, women are more likely to be attracted to all of these forms of activism EXCEPT
A. volunteering.
B. running, walking, and biking.
C. charity fund-raising activities.
D. neighborhood and community mediation.
E. persuading others to vote.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
29. (p. 199) Generational effects tend to be felt most strongly by which group?
A. old people
B. women
C. young people
D. men
E. Latinos
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
30. (p. 199) Which of these events is a strong example of the generational effect on oldest Americans?
A. World War II
B. September 11, 2001
C. the Vietnam War
D. the Civil War
E. the Persian Gulf War
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
31. (p. 200) Among the important regional differences in political outlook in the United States is that between
A. the Northeast and the South.
B. the Northeast and the West.
C. the Midwest and the West.
D. the South and the Midwest.
E. the South and the West.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
32. (p. 200) Which regions tend to favor the Democrats?
A. the Northeast and the Midwest
B. the West Coast and the South
C. the South and the West Coast
D. most major cities and the West
E. the Northeast, the West Coast, and most major cities
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 1
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
33. (p. 200) Which regions tend to favor the Republicans?
A. the West and most major cities
B. the West Coast and the South
C. the South and most major cities
D. the Midwest and the Northeast
E. the South, the West, and the Midwest
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 1
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
34. (p. 200) Which region is the most Protestant compared to other regions in the United States?
A. the West
B. the West Coast
C. the South
D. the Midwest
E. the Northeast
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
35. (p. 200) Which region has the largest Catholic and Jewish populations compared to other regions in the United States?
A. the West
B. the West Coast
C. the South
D. the Midwest
E. the Northeast
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
36. (p. 201) Which region has the largest population of those without a religious affiliation, compared to other regions in the United States?
A. the West
B. the major cities
C. the South
D. the Midwest
E. the Northeast
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Agents of Socialization
37. (p. 201) Public opinion and ________ are inextricably linked because the latter is the prism through which people view all political issues.
A. tradition
B. ideology
C. religion
D. family dynamics
E. personal belief
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Analyze
Difficulty: 3
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
38. (p. 201) Which of the following are examples of manifestations of popular opinion?
A. public demonstrations
B. looting and destruction of public property
C. writing letters to the editor in local newspapers
D. writing to congressmen and other federal officials
E. public demonstrations; writing letters to the editor in local newspapers; and writing to congressmen and other federal officials
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
39. (p. 201) Which of the following is the EARLIEST example of American politicians trying to shape public opinion?
A. the publication of The Federalist Papers
B. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address
C. William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech in the 1890s
D. Franklin D. Roosevelt's fireside chats during the Depression
E. Abolitionist newspapers published in the years before the Civil War
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Remember
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
40. (p. 201) Which of the following statements about public opinion is NOT true?
A. Public opinion is itself a socializing agent.
B. Public opinion is measured in part through the act of voting.
C. Public opinion is used to craft policies to help politicians gain reelection.
D. Public opinion is only recently important to American politics.
E. Public opinion is manifested in many ways.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
41. (p. 201) Which of the following BEST describes a straw poll?
A. representative
B. unscientific
C. credible
D. random
E. stratified
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
42. (p. 201) Which presidential election destroyed the credibility of the Literary Digest poll?
A. 1924 election
B. 1928 election
C. 1932 election
D. 1936 election
E. 1940 election
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
43. (p. 202) What was the main reason why the Literary Digest eventually failed to predict the outcome of a presidential election?
A. poorly worded question
B. small sample size
C. stopping polling too far away from the election
D. unrepresentative sample
E. math error
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Analyze
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
44. (p. 202) Who founded the American Institute of Public Opinion in 1935?
A. Alf Landon
B. Herbert Asher
C. Walter Lippmann
D. George Gallup
E. Thomas E. Dewey
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Remember
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
45. (p. 202) Which was the only presidential election in which the Gallup poll erred badly?
A. 1928 Hoover-Smith
B. 1936 Roosevelt-Landon
C. 1948 Truman-Dewey
D. 1964 Johnson-Goldwater
E. 2000 Bush-Gore
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Remember
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
46. (p. 203) According to the British Broadcasting Company survey in the text, in which of the following countries is there the MOST support for equal rights for women?
A. Iran
B. Nigeria
C. India
D. Russia
E. Mexico
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Remember
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
47. (p. 203) According to the British Broadcasting Company survey in the text, in which of the following countries is there the LEAST support for equal rights for women?
A. United States
B. Argentina
C. China
D. India
E. France Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation Critical Thinking: Remember
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
48. (p. 203) What is the first thing someone who is conducting a poll needs to do?
A. construct unbiased questions
B. determine a target population
C. select a sample
D. pick a survey measurement instrument
E. group participants by ideology
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
49. (p. 204) Because it is impossible to measure everyone's opinions, pollsters frequently rely on
A. random sampling.
B. quota sampling.
C. stratified sampling.
D. qualitative sampling.
E. quantitative sampling.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
50. (p. 204) Pollsters that structure a sample so that it is representative of the characteristics of a target population are using what type of sampling?
A. random sampling
B. quota sampling
C. stratified sampling
D. qualitative sampling
E. quantitative sampling
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
51. (p. 204) For the purposes of stratified sampling, how many sampling regions are there in the United States?
A. two
B. three
C. four
D. five
E. six
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Remember
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
52. (p. 205) Most national polling organizations rarely poll more than ________ respondents.
A. 100
B. 150
C. 500
D. 1,000
E. 1,500
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Remember
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
53. (p. 205) When polling a state or congressional district, a polling organization will typically use a sample size of
A. 80-100.
B. 150-200.
C. 300-500.
D. 800-1,000
E. 1,000-1,500.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Remember
Difficulty: 3
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
54. (p. 205) The key to a successful sample is to have a sample that
A. accurately reflects the population.
B. is exactly five percent of the population that is being polled.
C. is under 100 participants.
D. each participant is hand selected according to political views.
E. is polled only when it is ensured that they have enough time to answer the questions.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
55. (p. 206) Currently, pollsters are focused on this as a promising source of public opinion measurement in the future:
A. the landline telephone.
B. face-to-face interviews.
C. Postal Service mail.
D. the Internet.
E. interactive television.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Remember
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
56. (p. 206) A poll that measures changes in public opinion over time is known as a
A. straw poll.
B. Gallup poll.
C. tracking poll.
D. push poll.
E. exit poll.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
57. (p. 206) A poll that provides campaigns with information on candidate strengths and weaknesses, and also tries to skew public opinion is a
A. straw poll.
B. Gallup poll.
C. tracking poll.
D. push poll.
E. exit poll.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
58. (p. 206) A poll of which type would be most likely to ask the following question? "If you found out that Representative Jones participated in several unsavory financial transactions, would it affect your vote?"
A. straw poll
B. Gallup poll
C. tracking poll
D. push poll
E. exit poll
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
59. (p. 207) ________ are frequently sponsored by news organizations on election days, who use them to help predict outcomes of presidential or other national races.
A. Straw polls
B. Gallup polls
C. Tracking polls
D. Push polls
E. Exit polls
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: Measuring Public Opinion
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
60. (p. 207) Since 2008, which of the following issues has been identified by respondents as the "most important problem" facing the country?
A. jobs
B. the housing market
C. the economy
D. foreign wars
E. the threat of terrorism
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: What Americans Think about Politics
61. (p. 209) The recent decline in trust in the institution of the presidency is closely related to
A. anxiety over the direction of America's foreign policy.
B. concerns over whether the executive branch can be a force for positive change.
C. worries over government corruption and waste.
D. public approval of individual presidents.
E. public perceptions of America's economic health.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: What Americans Think about Politics
62. (p. 209) Which branch of the federal government consistently scores higher in levels of public trust than others?
A. federal bureaucracy
B. executive branch
C. judicial branch
D. legislative branch
E. Department of Justice
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Critical Thinking: Understand
Difficulty: 2
Teaching Emphasis: Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Text Answer Hint: What Americans Think about Politics
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Essay Questions
63. Identify the two main influences of political socialization that we experience from early childhood.
Historically, social scientists have identified the family and school as the two major influences on political socialization. Our families teach us that it is or is not valuable to be an informed citizen, and they coach us in civic participation. Schools influence our political socialization by teaching us shared cultural values. Both family and schools establish within us our foundations of political and civic awareness.
64. Discuss the ways in which the media act as an agent of political socialization.
As ever-present fixtures in our daily lives, and particularly in the lives of young Americans, the media contribute to our political socialization in several ways. They help shape social norms, and impart and distribute values. They also help determine the national agenda, help educate people about public policy issues, and can skew people's perception of public policy priorities and challenges.
65. Explain the relationship between peer groups, diversity, and norms and values.
Friends, neighbors, coworkers, and other peers influence political socialization, particularly at younger ages. Through peers, we learn about community, political climate, and local values. Most research indicates peers reinforce our pre-existing values, largely because we tend to select peers with similar norms and values.
66. Define the gender gap and provide examples of its visibility on certain issues.
The gender gap is the term used to describe the differences in views and voting patterns between men and women. Public opinion polls and voting data confirm this gap, which indicates that men and women hold very different views on certain issues. Voter turnout patterns increase the effect of the gap. Issues where it is visible include the optimal role of government, terrorism policy, and foreign military conflicts.
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67. Identify the role geographic region plays in forming public opinion.
Geographic region plays a significant role in shaping political attitudes. These differences stem from historical migration patterns and reveal significant regional differences, such as that between the Northeast and the South. Along with migration, religious affiliation plays a role in shaping these regional differences, with Protestants dominant in the South, and large numbers of Jews and Catholics in the Northeast.
68. Explain the role of the public opinion poll in American politics.
Public opinion polls are used for various purposes in the United States. Defined as surveys of a given population's opinion on an issue at a particular point in time, public opinion polls are used by policy makers, political candidates, the general public, and the media. All these groups see public opinion polls as indicators of public approval or disapproval of policy and governance.
69. Define quota sampling and explain its uses.
Quota sampling is a form of sampling used in public opinion polls. This method is considered more statistically accurate than random sampling; it structures the sample so that it is representative of the target population. This method is particularly useful in diverse demographic environments such as cities. Pollsters and others routinely rely on quota sampling.
70. Identify issues associated with Internet sampling techniques.
Although Internet polls are becoming increasingly popular, they present their own set of obstacles, including issues associated with equal access not everyone owns or has access to Internet-ready devices and multiple repeat responses. Internet polls can also be skewed due to their use as part of "membership" programs, which reward respondents for completing surveys that help create representative samples of target populations.
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71. Identify the types of information that can be derived from tracking polls, and which organizations or individuals employ them.
Tracking polls measure changes in public opinion over the course of days, weeks, and months by repeatedly asking respondents the same questions and measuring changes in opinion. They have been seen as an accurate indicator in presidential elections since 1992. They are also useful in indicating the effectiveness of media strategies and campaigning, or whether the campaign's message is working.
72. Outline how Americans have changed their responses to the "most important problem" question in public opinion polls between 2001 and 2014.
Between 2001 and 2014, respondents to the "most important problem" facing America question have shifted their emphases. Early in the decade, foreign wars, such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan, were the most common responses. However, since 2008, the economy has eclipsed foreign entanglements as the most commonly cited response to this question. Other problems cited include immigration, terrorism, health care, and gas prices.
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.