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POLI 201 - Public Opinion

Terms in this set (12)

Public Opinion
the complex aggregation of multiple individual opinions into one mass opinion
Political Socialization
The process by which individuals develop political attitudes, beliefs, opinions and knowledge
Sample Bias
the effect of having a sample that does not represent all segments of the population
Sample Error
a number that indicates within what range the results of a poll are accurate
Straw Polls
They poll anyone who is available and is used to "judge political winds"
Exit Polls
This is where the media or a campaign waits at the exit of a polling station asks people who are leaving who they voted for
Push Polls
They ask respondents to answer questions based on hypothetical, even false, information in order to manipulate the public opinion
Liberal Democratic Theory
A democracy cannot flourish without an educated and politically active citizenry
Rational Ignorance
People forego learning about politics and leave the learning to other people
Why is public opinion important in American politics?
Public opinion is important in American politics because since we a government of the people, public opinion is implemented so the government to react to the wants and needs of the people.
What are some of the important agents of political socialization?
Family, Education, Media, Major Life Events, Economic Status and Occupation, Peer Group, and Demographic Factors.
What are the three general steps of conducting a valid opinion poll?
First, you have to draw a representative sample from the population. Next, administer a public opinion survey. Then, calculate the results.
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