GOVT 2305 - Chapter 10 Flashcards

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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?

Schools have a major impact on a child's basic beliefs, but not necessarily on specific issues. Signup and view all the answers

What influence does mass media have in political socialization?

Children are exposed to the powerful socializing effect of audio-visual media. Signup and view all the answers

What is the influence of peers on political beliefs?

Peers are more likely to reinforce rather than change beliefs and values acquired during childhood. Signup and view all the answers

How do churches and religion affect political socialization?

Churches shape the beliefs, values, and opinions of individuals. Signup and view all the answers

What are other agents that influence opinions?

Race and ethnicity, gender, age, region, and events. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 3 characteristics of political socialization?

Continuous for life, cumulative process, the age-cohort tendency. Signup and view all the answers

What is Public Opinion?

What the public thinks about a given issue or set of issues at any point in time. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 2 measures of public opinion?

Public Opinion Polls and elections. Signup and view all the answers

Name the 3 types of political opinion polls.

Push Polls, Tracking Polls, Exit Polls. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'population' mean in public opinion polling?

The entire community members whose opinions are being estimated. Signup and view all the answers

What is a sample in public opinion polling?

A small number of individuals selected at random from a large population. Signup and view all the answers

What is a sampling error?

A measure of accuracy of polls usually expressed in percentages. Signup and view all the answers

What is stratified sampling?

A variation of random sampling based on geographical regions. Signup and view all the answers

What are the major problems with public opinion polling?

Pollsters cannot interview every member of a population; polls are mathematical estimates. Signup and view all the answers

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.