Questions and Answers
Which of the following is NOT an agent of political socialization?
How are most attitudes formed?
In childhood, based on early childhood experiences.
_____________ political content is given by a media source that lets the reader or viewer know upfront there is a political bias or position.
Overt
Where do your beliefs originate?
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Which agents of socialization have the strongest impact on an individual?
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The Bradley effect occurs when people ______________.
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Which of the following is NOT part of a scientific poll design?
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What do you think of the poll that states Clinton will receive 43% of the vote with an 8% margin of error?
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Why do pollsters view random people throughout the country when trying to project which candidate will win a presidential election?
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How have changes in technology made polling more difficult?
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Why are social politics controversial?
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Which factor affects congressional approval ratings the most?
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Which institution has the highest average public approval ratings?
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When are social and economic issues more likely to cause polarization in public opinion?
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How do polls affect presidential elections?
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Presidential approval ratings ________ over a president's term of office.
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Which body of government is least susceptible to public opinion polls?
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Why would House of Representatives members be more likely than the president to follow public opinion?
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How does the media use public opinion polls during election season?
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Why might one branch's approval ratings be higher than another's?
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Study Notes
Political Socialization
- Political socialization agents include family, school, and community; an U.S. senator is not an agent.
- Most attitudes are formed during childhood from early experiences.
- Family has the strongest impact among socialization agents.
Media and Political Bias
- Overt political content informs readers/viewers of its bias or position upfront.
Polling and Public Opinion
- The Bradley effect describes a phenomenon where individuals indicate support for a candidate but vote against them.
- Scientific poll design must avoid leading questions to maintain accuracy.
- High margins of error, such as 8%, may indicate a non-representative poll.
- Random sampling of diverse populations is crucial to avoid bias in polling results.
- Technological changes complicate polling due to various methods and lower response rates in certain demographics.
Social Politics and Public Sentiment
- Social politics can be controversial as they demand a balance of rights and liberties among different groups.
- Domestic events primarily influence congressional approval ratings.
- The Supreme Court typically enjoys the highest average public approval ratings.
Polarization and Issues
- Polarization in public opinion is heightened when economic and social issues present conflicting interests.
Polls and Elections
- Polls help inform voters about candidate-supporting issues, influencing voter behavior in elections.
- Presidential approval ratings generally decline over a president’s term.
- The U.S. Supreme Court is the least influenced by public opinion polls.
Political Accountability
- House of Representatives members are more responsive to public opinion than the president due to frequent elections and campaign fundraising demands.
- Media uses public opinion polls during election season to gauge voter preferences.
Approval Ratings Variability
- Approval ratings may vary between government branches; smaller organizations may find it easier to manage public perception compared to larger ones.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the key concepts from Chapter 6 of U.S. Government, focusing on the agents of political socialization and how attitudes are formed. Explore important terminology and definitions that shape public opinion and political bias in the media.
