Political Science Chapter 8: Public Opinion and Housing Discrimination

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What is the current status of federal law regarding housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity?

There is a comprehensive federal law prohibiting such discrimination.
The law is pending approval in Congress.
Some states have enacted protections, but there is no federal law. (correct)
The federal law only applies to certain states.

What is the definition of public opinion according to the textbook?

An aggregate measure of the beliefs, attitudes, judgments, and/or preferences of a population over matters of public concern. (correct)
The aggregate measure of individual opinions on a specific issue.
The opinions of a random sample of individuals.
The opinions of influential people in a population.

What is the typical size of a sample in opinion polls conducted today?

2,500 to 5,000 individuals
500 to 1,500 individuals (correct)
1,500 to 3,000 individuals
1,000 to 2,000 individuals

What is the purpose of drawing a sample from a population in public opinion research?

To estimate the opinions of the entire population. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the type of survey measurement error in which the order of questions can influence responses?

Ordering effects (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the group whose aggregate opinion a public opinion researcher seeks to know?

Population (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary responsibility of representatives according to the delegate model of representation?

To follow the opinions of their constituents (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of political predispositions in shaping public opinion?

They condition how one formulates opinions about public affairs (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between the delegate and trustee models of representation?

The level of independence representatives have from their constituents (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is political socialization, in relation to political predispositions?

The process of shaping political predispositions through education and experience (C) Signup and view all the answers

According to the trustee model of representation, what should representatives prioritize when making decisions?

Their own best judgment of what is just or promotes the public good (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of averaging the results of multiple polls?

To provide a more comprehensive understanding of public opinion (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a major consequence of nonresponse bias in surveys?

Samples under-represent individuals who are less likely to respond (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason researchers can influence the margin of error?

By altering the size of the sample (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the phenomenon where individuals support a cause or candidate due to its popularity in polls?

Bandwagon effect (A) Signup and view all the answers

Why do pollsters not typically use large sample sizes, such as 4,500?

Bigger increases in sample size are needed to make a significant impact on the margin of error (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of poll aggregators?

To aggregate and analyze results from multiple polls (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the 95% confidence level in polling?

It indicates the probability of the sample value deviating from the true population value (B) Signup and view all the answers