Deck 5: The Networked Party: How Social Network Analysis Is Revolutionizing the Study of Political Parties

Question 1

Which of the following allow political parties to get around campaign finance laws to support preferred candidates?

A) Direct contributions to the campaign from citizens
B) Super PACs, 527s and other tax and/or regulation exempt bodies
C) Funding directly from the party establishment
D) All of the above

Answer 1

B

Question 2

What are some possible applications of social network analysis?

Answer 2

No Answer

Question 3

Describe the ideological positions of legislators over time, as explained in the chapter.

Answer 3

No Answer

Question 4

What constitutes a party insider? What does it take to become an insider?

Question 5

Which most directly led to the end of hierarchical parties led by strong party bosses?

A) Party-centered campaigns
B) Cursus Honorum
C) The Shankman Decrees
D) All of the above

Question 6

What is one of the main arguments against social network analysis theories?

A) People with similar interests tend to naturally cluster.
B) Visualizing social networks is extremely difficult.
C) Social network analysis is very new.
D) It has no way of analyzing causality.

Question 7

According to the chapter, "the ____________ of our social networks may have a greater effect on our participation than our understanding of politics does."

A) size and social clout
B) political sophistication
C) level of social involvement
D) primary initiatives

Question 8

What are "ego-centric" networks?

A) Networks based on one's ego, or self-confidence.
B) Nuclear families
C) Networks of directly-connected people
D) Political networks

Question 9

Which of the following is a problem with item response theory (IRT) methods of analysis?

A) Each vote cast is assumed to be an isolated event.
B) They are frequently complicated and complex.
C) Logrolling and other external influences and circumstances are often overlooked.
D) All of the above.
E) A & C

Question 10

According to the chapter, what may lead to more difficulty in settling on presidential nominees for the Democratic party, compared to the Republican party?

A) A strong, hierarchical structure
B) A lack of funding
C) Homogeneous candidates
D) More interest group membership

Question 11

What does Figure 5.2 indicate about the process of contact information dissemination among interest groups, parties, politicians and other bodies?

A) Information is freely and widely distributed.
B) Information is exclusively provided to entities with ideological similarities.
C) Information is exclusively provided to entities with ideological contrasts.
D) Information is provided to large, powerful and wealthy entities.

Question 12

What would J.Q. Wilson argue motivates political "amateurs"?

A) Social pressure
B) Political power
C) Material reward ($)
D) Ideological stances

Question 13

Late 20th century political scholars viewed parties as:

A) Amorphous networks
B) Alliances of ambitious politicians
C) Under the control of party bosses
D) Effectively dissolved

Question 14

Compare and contrast political parties and social networks. What constitutes a social network? What constitutes a party? What do they share and where do they differ?