Chapter 6 Quiz 5

Front 1

Political socialization

Back 1

The process by which individuals acquire their political values and outlooks

Front 2

Political Elites

Back 2

Individuals who control significant wealth, status, power, or visibility and who, consequently have significant influence over public debates

Front 3

Random sample

Back 3

A sample in which everyone in the population has an equal probability of being selected

Front 4

Sampling frame

Back 4

A designated group of people from whom a set of poll respondents is randomly selected

Front 5

Demographic group

Back 5

People sharing specific factors like age, ethnicity/race, religion, or country of origin

Front 6

Likely voters

Back 6

Persons identified as probable voters in an upcoming election. Often preferred by polling organizations, but difficult to specify with great accuracy

Front 7

Framing effects

Back 7

The way the wording of a polling question influences a respondent

Front 8

Push poll

Back 8

A form of negative campaigning that masquerades as a regular opinion survey. They usually feature unflattering information about an opponent

Front 9

Margin of sampling error

Back 9

The degree of inaccuracy in any poll, arising from the fact that surveys involve a sample of respondents from a population, rather than every member

Front 10

Response bias

Back 10

The tendency of poll respondents to misstate their views, frequently to avoid “shameful” opinions that might appear sexist or racist

Front 11

Bandwagon effect

Back 11

When people join a cause because it seems popular or support a candidate who is leading in the polls

Front 12

Boomerang effect

Back 12

The discrepancy between candidates high poll ratings and election performance, caused by supports assumption that an easy win means they need not turn out.

Front 13

Nonattitudes

Back 13

The lack of a stable perspective in response to opinion surveys

Front 14

Information shortcuts

Back 14

Cues about candidates and policies drawn from everyday life

Front 15

Groupthink

Back 15

The tendency among a small group of decision makers to converge on a shared set of views. It can limit creative thinking or solutions to policy problems

Front 16

Survey research

Back 16

Systematic study of a defined population, analyzing a representative samples view to draw inferences about the larger public’s views. Also termed opinion poll

Front 17

Mandate

Back 17

Political authority claimed by an election winner as reflecting the approval of the people

Front 18

Approval rating

Back 18

A measure of public support for a political figure or institution

Front 19

Policy agenda

Back 19

The issues that the media covers, the public considers important, and politicians address. Setting the agenda is the first step in political action

Front 20

Traditional participation

Back 20

Engaging in politics through the formal channels of government and society

Front 21

Civic voluntarism

Back 21

Citizen participation in public life without government incentives or coercion, such as getting together to build a playground

Front 22

Direct action

Back 22

Participating outside of normal political and social channels through civil disobedience, demonstrations, and even riots

Front 23

Civil disobedience

Back 23

Protesting laws one considers unjust by refusing to obey them and accepting the punishment

Front 24

Political voice

Back 24

Exercising ones public rights, often through speaking out in protest or in favor of some policy change

Front 25

Social capital

Back 25

Relations between people that build closer ties of trust and civic engagement, yielding productive benefits for the larger society

Front 26

Political mobilization

Back 26

Efforts to encourage people to engage in the public sphere: to vote for a particular candidate (and donate money, work on the campaign, etc.) or to get involved in specific issues

Front 27

Issue advocacy

Back 27

Organized effort to advance (or block) a proposed public policy change

Front 28

Voter turnout

Back 28

a measure of what proportion of eligible voters or voting age voters cast a ballot in a given election

Front 29

Paradox of voting

Back 29

For most individuals, the cost of voting (acquiring necessary information, traveling to polling site, and waiting in line) outweighs the apparent benefits. Economic theory would predict very low voter turnout, given this analysis.

Front 30

Clicktivism

Back 30

Democratic engagement in an online age: point your mouse, click, and you have donated funds, “liked” a candidate, or (in some states) even cast your vote.

Front 31

Din

Back 31

Shorthand for the sheer volume of information and noise generated by online sources. It can be a disincentive to participate politically

Front 32

Benchmark polls

Back 32

Conducted by a campaign as the race begins, these surveys provide a basis for comparison, or a “benchmark” for later polls. With a benchmark number candidates can tel if their likelihood of winning is rising or falling

Front 33

Benchmark polls

Back 33

Conducted by a campaign as the race begins, these surveys provide a basis for comparison, or a “benchmark” for later polls. With a benchmark number candidates can tel if their likelihood of winning is rising or falling

Front 34

Straw polls

Back 34

Informal polls carried out by local party organizations or news outlets. They often involve actual (non binding) votes cast by party members. Media organizations report results, especially during presidential primaries