Question 1

Why have American National Election Studies (ANES)researchers conducted surveys before and after every mid-term and presidential election since 1952?

Accepted Answer

The American National Election Studies (ANES) researchers conduct pre-election and post-election surveys to compile long-term studies of the electorate. The researchers utilize this data to understand how elections have changed, how voters are changing, and what factors are driving those changes. This helps to provide valuable insights into American politics and the changes in public opinion and decision-making. The information gathered from these studies also helps policymakers and candidates to better understand the concerns and needs of the electorate.

Question 2

What is political socialization?

Accepted Answer

Political socialization is the process by which individuals acquire their political beliefs, values, and attitudes. This process can be influenced by various factors including family, education, media, religion, and peers. It is a lifelong process and can continue to shape an individual's political beliefs and behaviors throughout their life.

Question 3

Which of the following accurately describes a difference in public opinion between men and women?

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that men are more likely to favor military intervention than women. The other choices do not accurately reflect gender differences in public opinion.

Question 4

As a pollster for Smart Polling,you are concerned about gauging the public's attitudes about arms-control policy.You believe that the public not only has little information on this complex topic,but also has thought little about it.What procedure might you implement to increase the accuracy of your polling data?

Accepted Answer

The answer of As a pollster for Smart Polling,you are...

Question 5

Which of the following is the clearest example of a question that might be found on a push poll?

Accepted Answer

A push poll is a political campaign technique in which a pollster asks leading questions to influence the respondent's opinion rather than simply gathering information. Option B is an example of a leading question that provides negative information about the candidate before asking for the respondent's opinion. A and D are straightforward polling questions, and C is a simple candidate preference question.

Question 6

In a random sample of 1,000 high school students,29 percent indicated that they had read the Declaration of Independence at least once,with a margin of error of 4 percent.Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

Based on the margin of error of 4 percent, we can be 95% confident that the true proportion of high school students who have read the Declaration of Independence is between 25% (29% - 4%) and 33% (29% + 4%). Therefore, option C is the best choice as it states that it is likely that between 25 and 33 percent of the population have read the Declaration of Independence. The other answer choices are not supported by the given information.

Question 7

George Gallup believed that __________.This belief continues to be common today.

Accepted Answer

George Gallup believed that leaders should have an appraisal of public opinion and consider it in reaching their decisions. This belief continues to be common today and is a fundamental principle behind public opinion polling.

Question 8

A decrease in political knowledge will likely cause __________.

Accepted Answer

An decrease in political knowledge will likely cause a decrease in political participation. People who are less informed about politics are less likely to engage in political activities such as attending rallies, contacting elected officials, or voting.

Question 9

During his campaign for reelection in 2012,Barack Obama deemphasized his work on health care reform.Which of the following reasons is the most plausible explanation for this decision,given what you know about the interaction between public opinion and policy and politics?

Accepted Answer

Health care reform was a highly controversial issue with deep divisions in public opinion. By de-emphasizing this issue, Obama's campaign could avoid alienating voters who were opposed to his healthcare reform policies, and instead focus on issues with broader support, such as improvements in the economy and employment.

Question 10

To determine if families with children would use school vouchers to send their children to charter schools,from which of the following populations should you select a sample?

Accepted Answer

Parents of children under age 18 are the most relevant group to sample because they are the ones directly affected by and interested in the use of school vouchers for their children's education.

Question 11

In 1948,the Chicago Daily Tribune wrongly predicted that Republican Thomas E.Dewey would beat incumbent President Harry S.Truman.Knowing what you know about the accuracy of various polls,what kind of poll would most likely have led the Tribune to make this erroneous prediction?

Accepted Answer

A straw poll is a type of poll that is usually conducted informally and involves asking a small number of people their opinions on a specific topic. Straw polls are not generally considered to be very accurate due to their small sample size and lack of scientific methodology. The Chicago Daily Tribune may have obtained their predictions from a straw poll, which would have led to the erroneous prediction that Dewey would win the election.

Question 12

How are exit polls conducted?

Accepted Answer

Exit polls are conducted in person at polling locations. Pollsters approach voters as they exit the voting booths to ask questions about how they voted and why. This method is believed to be the most accurate way to gauge the results of an election.

Question 13

When have Gallup's predictions been the least accurate?

Accepted Answer

Gallup's predictions have been least accurate when there is a prominent third-party candidate. This is because third-party candidates can disrupt the traditional two-party system and create uncertainty in the election outcome. For example, in the 1992 presidential election, Gallup projected a close race between George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, but Ross Perot, a third-party candidate, won 19% of the popular vote, which was a higher percentage than any third-party candidate had won in over 80 years.

Question 14

Of the following topics,which is more likely than the others to be subject to a screening procedure in a public opinion poll?

Accepted Answer

The federal budget is a complex and technical topic that requires a high level of knowledge and understanding. As a result, it is more likely to be subject to a screening procedure in a public opinion poll.

Question 15

At what age do parents exercise the greatest influence on the political socialization of their children?

Accepted Answer

Parents exercise the greatest influence on the political socialization of their children from birth to age five. This is because children are most impressionable during this time and are more likely to adopt the political views of their parents.

Question 16

What is the relationship between partisanship and views on whether the government should guarantee every citizen enough to eat and a place to sleep?

Accepted Answer

According to the information provided, the best choice is D since it states that more than three-fourths (or 75%) of Democrats believe that the government should guarantee that every citizen has enough to eat and a place to sleep. The other options are either incorrect or do not provide a clear explanation based on the information given.

Question 17

Which of the following statements best describes the interaction between public opinion and public policy in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Public opinion can play a significant role in shaping public policy in the United States. Policymakers often take public opinion into account when deciding on policy initiatives or when adjusting existing policies to better align with the views of the public. However, the extent to which public opinion influences policy can vary depending on a variety of factors, including the issue at hand, the level of public engagement, and the relative power of different interest groups.

Question 18

Which of the following is a disadvantage of surveying the public using traditional telephone polls?

Accepted Answer

Many people have switched from landline phones to cell phones, particularly younger generations. This makes it difficult to obtain a representative sample of the population through traditional telephone polls.

Question 19

A polling firm has been commissioned by the New York Times to assess public opinion about the performance of FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency)during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.What should the firm do first?

Accepted Answer

Before any polling is conducted, the polling firm should determine the population they wish to survey. In this case, they should determine who is eligible to provide an opinion about the performance of FEMA during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Question 20

Which of the following surveys is more likely than the others to generate self-selection error?

Accepted Answer

Mail-in surveys often suffer from self-selection error because only those who are motivated or interested in the topic are likely to respond, leading to a non-representative sample.

Quiz 10: Public Opinion and Political Socialization

Why have American National Election Studies (ANES) researchers conducted surveys before and after every mid-term and presidential election since 1952?