Questions and Answers
What is Political Socialization?
It is the learning process through which individuals acquire their political opinions, beliefs and values in any society.
What are the 6 agents of political socialization?
The Family, Schools, Mass Media, Peers, Churches and Religion, Political Institutions and Leaders.
What is the first agent of socialization that a child encounters?
The Family
What role do schools play in political socialization?
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What influence does mass media have in political socialization?
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What is the influence of peers on political beliefs?
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How do churches and religion affect political socialization?
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What are other agents that influence opinions?
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What are the 3 characteristics of political socialization?
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What is Public Opinion?
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What are the 2 measures of public opinion?
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Name the 3 types of political opinion polls.
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What does 'population' mean in public opinion polling?
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What is a sample in public opinion polling?
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What is a sampling error?
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What is stratified sampling?
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What are the major problems with public opinion polling?
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Study Notes
Political Socialization
- Political socialization is the process where individuals develop their political opinions, beliefs, and values.
- Influenced primarily during childhood but continues throughout a person's life.
Agents of Political Socialization
- Family: First socialization agent; strong influence on beliefs and perceptions of reality.
- Schools: Shape basic beliefs; perspective may evolve with age and education.
- Mass Media: Significant impact from early childhood; often lacks parental control regarding political content.
- Peers: Friends and co-workers reinforce childhood beliefs; peer pressure affects social behavior but less so political views.
- Churches & Religion: Influence beliefs and values; most Americans associate with a belief in God and view religion as a means to address social issues.
- Political Institutions and Leaders: Leaders serve as opinion guides, particularly during crises or national events.
Additional Influencing Factors
- Influence of race and ethnicity, gender, age, geographic region, and significant events.
Characteristics of Political Socialization
- Continuous for Life: Ongoing process; foundational beliefs formed in childhood, but subject to change.
- Cumulative Process: Early beliefs impact future views; social interactions play a role in belief evolution.
- Age-Cohort Tendency: Younger individuals are generally more adaptable in their beliefs compared to older adults; significant mass change is infrequent.
Public Opinion
- Defined as the collective thoughts of the public regarding specific issues at any given time.
Measures of Public Opinion
- Two primary methods: Public Opinion Polls and elections.
Types of Political Opinion Polls
- Push Polls: Designed to sway voters by providing negative information about opponents.
- Tracking Polls: Ongoing daily polls that monitor candidates' support levels.
- Exit Polls: Conducted post-voting to analyze how people voted and predict outcomes.
Elements of Opinion Polling
- Population: The entire group of individuals whose opinions are being represented.
- Sample: A representative subset of the population selected at random for polling purposes.
- Sampling Error: Indicates the accuracy of poll results, typically expressed as a margin of error (e.g., ±2% to ±4%).
- Stratified Sampling: A method utilizing census data to ensure representation across different geographical regions.
Problems with Public Opinion Polling
- Polls are estimations rather than comprehensive data; challenges in accurately assessing public opinion due to sample limitations.
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Description
Explore the key concepts of political socialization in this chapter 10 flashcard quiz. Learn about the different agents that influence political beliefs and values, including family, schools, and media. This quiz is designed to help reinforce your understanding of the political socialization process.