Questions and Answers
What is the term used to describe the beliefs and attitudes that people have about issues, events, elected officials, and policies?
Today, the term __________________ refers to an ideology that supports social and political reform, greater economic equality, and expansion of government services.
liberalism
What does a 'libertarian' believe?
Governments are inherently repressive and should be abolished entirely.
What is the process by which Americans learn political beliefs and values called?
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What are some examples of agents of socialization?
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What does the term 'gender gap' refer to?
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What are the most important external influences on how political opinions are formed?
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How can the relationship between public opinion and government policy be described?
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What term is used in public-opinion polling to denote the small group representing the opinions of the whole population?
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What is a 'push poll'?
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What is the 'bandwagon effect'?
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What are agents of socialization?
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What is an 'attitude' in the context of political opinion?
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What does the 'bandwagon effect' represent?
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What is conservatism?
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What is democracy?
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What is meant by equality of opportunity?
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What does the term 'gender gap' highlight?
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What does the term 'liberal' refer to?
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What is a libertarian's stance on government?
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What does liberty stand for?
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What is meant by the 'marketplace of ideas'?
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What is political ideology?
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What is 'political socialization'?
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What is public opinion?
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What are public-opinion polls?
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What is push polling?
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What does random digit dialing refer to?
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Study Notes
Public Opinion Overview
- Public opinion encompasses the beliefs and attitudes of people regarding issues, events, elected officials, and policies.
- The dynamic relationship between government policy and public opinion allows for mutual influence.
Political Ideologies
- Liberalism: Supports social and political reform, economic equality, and expanded government services.
- Conservatism: Advocates for maintaining the social and economic status quo, fearing government overreach.
- Libertarianism: Emphasizes individual freedom, advocating for minimal government intervention and voluntary association.
Political Socialization
- Political socialization is the process through which individuals acquire their political beliefs and values.
- Key agents of socialization include family, educational institutions, social groups, and the political environment.
Voting Behavior
- The gender gap describes varying voting behaviors and preferences between men and women, reflecting differing perspectives.
- The bandwagon effect occurs when polling results sway individuals to support candidates perceived as likely victors.
Public Opinion Measurement
- A sample is a small group that reflects the broader opinions of the entire population during public opinion polling.
- Public-opinion polls serve as scientific tools for measuring citizens' attitudes on political issues.
Polling Techniques
- Push polling involves biased questions aimed at shaping opinions rather than capturing genuine responses.
- Random digit dialing is a method that randomly selects respondents to ensure a diverse and representative sample.
Core Concepts in Democracy
- Democracy facilitates citizen participation in governance through elections.
- Equality of opportunity conveys the ideal that all individuals should have the freedom to maximize their potential using their resources.
Key Definitions
- Attitude or opinion represents a specific preference regarding a particular issue.
- The marketplace of ideas refers to the arena where various beliefs and ideas are exchanged and compete for acceptance.
- Political ideology is a cohesive set of beliefs that forms a general philosophy regarding the government’s role.
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Description
This set of flashcards covers key concepts and terminology related to public opinion from Chapter 5 of your Political Science textbook. Learn about public opinion, ideologies like liberalism and libertarianism, and how these concepts influence society and governance. Enhance your understanding of the political landscape and its implications.