Podcast
Questions and Answers
Liberalism and conservatism are examples of?
Liberalism and conservatism are examples of?
The vast majority of Americans describe themselves as?
The vast majority of Americans describe themselves as?
A liberal would most likely support?
A liberal would most likely support?
an expansion in governmental social services.
A person's political party preferences are primarily acquired through the influence of?
A person's political party preferences are primarily acquired through the influence of?
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________ generally support abortion rights and oppose state involvement with religious institutions.
________ generally support abortion rights and oppose state involvement with religious institutions.
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Which of the following statements about the political opinions of Democrats and Republicans in the public is the most accurate?
Which of the following statements about the political opinions of Democrats and Republicans in the public is the most accurate?
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Lack of political knowledge and political engagement can lead to increasing political and economic inequality and manipulation by political and wealthy elites, which _____ democracy.
Lack of political knowledge and political engagement can lead to increasing political and economic inequality and manipulation by political and wealthy elites, which _____ democracy.
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The fact that Americans today are likely to follow the news by briefly reading multiple headlines online rather than by reading longer news articles is referred to as?
The fact that Americans today are likely to follow the news by briefly reading multiple headlines online rather than by reading longer news articles is referred to as?
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Priming refers to the?
Priming refers to the?
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Which statement best describes the relationship between public opinion and government policy?
Which statement best describes the relationship between public opinion and government policy?
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Conservative politicians developed and communicated the notion of a fetal 'right to life' in order to?
Conservative politicians developed and communicated the notion of a fetal 'right to life' in order to?
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What describes the power the media have to influence how Americans think about issues?
What describes the power the media have to influence how Americans think about issues?
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The fact that survey respondents overreport voting in elections and the frequency of their church attendance is an example of the ________ effect.
The fact that survey respondents overreport voting in elections and the frequency of their church attendance is an example of the ________ effect.
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During the 2000 South Carolina Republican primary, George W. Bush supporters telephoned conservative white voters to ask if they would be more or less likely to vote for John McCain if they knew he had fathered an illegitimate black child. This was an example of a?
During the 2000 South Carolina Republican primary, George W. Bush supporters telephoned conservative white voters to ask if they would be more or less likely to vote for John McCain if they knew he had fathered an illegitimate black child. This was an example of a?
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In order for a survey to accurately generalize to the entire population, the survey must?
In order for a survey to accurately generalize to the entire population, the survey must?
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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.
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.
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How big a sample size is sufficient to have a reasonably accurate poll?
How big a sample size is sufficient to have a reasonably accurate poll?
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A(n) ________ is a method used by pollsters to select a representative sample in which every individual in the population has an equal probability of being selected as a respondent.
A(n) ________ is a method used by pollsters to select a representative sample in which every individual in the population has an equal probability of being selected as a respondent.
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Study Notes
Political Ideologies
- Liberalism and conservatism are fundamental political ideologies in the United States.
- Americans predominantly identify as liberals, conservatives, or moderates.
Liberal Support
- Liberals typically advocate for an expansion of governmental social services.
- They generally support abortion rights and oppose state involvement with religious institutions.
Influences on Political Preferences
- Family has the greatest influence on an individual's political party preferences.
Political Opinions
- Current gaps between Democrat and Republican views are the widest in 40 years, reflecting intense polarization.
- Lack of political knowledge and engagement can weaken democracy by fostering political and economic inequality.
Political Engagement and Media
- Many Americans prefer "skimming and scanning" news online rather than engaging with longer articles.
- Framing, agenda-setting, priming, and selection bias are media mechanisms that shape public perception and influence opinions on issues.
Public Opinion Dynamics
- The relationship between public opinion and government policy is reciprocal; each influences the other over time.
Social Influence in Surveys
- Social desirability effect leads respondents to exaggerate voting frequency and church attendance in surveys.
- Selection bias can skew public opinion forecasts, as seen in the 1936 Literary Digest poll predicting a Republican victory by polling biased samples.
Polling Techniques and Accuracy
- Push polling can manipulate voter sentiment, exemplified by tactics used in the 2000 South Carolina Republican primary.
- Accurate polling requires a random selection process, with all individuals in the population having an equal chance of being included.
- A sample size of approximately 1500 respondents is generally deemed sufficient for reliable polling results.
- Stratified sampling is a method ensuring equal probability for each individual to be surveyed in the population.
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Description
Explore the key political ideologies shaping the United States, focusing on liberalism, conservatism, and the factors influencing political preferences. Understand how family and media affect political engagement and public opinion during a time of intense polarization.
