Polls, Ideology, and Socialization

the experiences and factors that shape an individual's political values, attitudes, and behaviors.

• political ideology

• individualism

• political culture

• political socialization

the impact of historical events experienced by a generation upon their political views

• generational effect

• individualism

• life-cycle effect

• political socialization

a representative poll of randomly selected respondents with a statistically significant sample size, using neutral language

• scientific poll

• representative sample

• focus group

• sample

a method of choosing all poll respondents in a way that does no over/under represent any group of the population

• random selection

• representative sample

• mass survey

• sample

What is public opinion?

• The official stance of a government on an issue

• The collective opinion of a group of experts on a particular topic

• The distribution of individual preferences or evaluations of a given issue within a population

• A policy decision made by elected officials

How can changes in ideology occur within a society?

• Through changes in leadership only

• Due to economic fluctuations

• Through shifts in public opinion, generational changes, and significant events

• Ideologies never change

Which of the following is a major influence on an individual's political ideology?

• Weather conditions

• Family and educational background

• The number of pets one has

• Favorite color

Which factor does NOT directly influence an individual's political ideology?

• Religious beliefs

• Favorite sports team

• Educational attainment

• Socioeconomic status

What role does public opinion play in a democracy?

• It has no real impact

• It guides the decisions of policymakers

• It is only considered during elections

• It is used to determine tax rates

What is a political ideology that emphasizes individual freedom and minimal government intervention in the economy?

• Communism

• Socialism

• Liberalism

• Conservatism