4.6 -- Evaluating Public Opinion Data

What is the primary effect of public opinion on elections?

• It determines the winner directly.

• It guarantees a candidate's victory.

• It influences candidate placement in debates.

• It has no effect on elections.

What is the 'bandwagon effect' in the context of public opinion?

• A tendency to ignore public opinion polls.

• A tendency to support a candidate who is polling well.

• A tendency to vote against popular opinion.

• A tendency to support a losing candidate.

How can public opinion polls affect policy debates?

• They force politicians to ignore public opinion.

• They influence politicians to vote in line with popular opinion.

• They can lead to the immediate implementation of policies.

• They have no effect on policy debates.

What was a major polling failure mentioned in the text?

• The 2016 presidential election.

• The 2020 presidential election.

• The 2008 financial crisis.

• The 2012 Olympic Games.

What is 'social desirability bias'?

• When people give honest answers in surveys.

• When people give answers they think are socially acceptable.

• When people refuse to participate in surveys.

• When people always vote as they claim in surveys.

What is 'non-response bias'?

• When everyone responds to a survey.

• When certain groups are more likely to respond to surveys.

• When surveys are conducted online.

• When surveys are conducted in person.

Why might partisan polls be unreliable?

• They are conducted by independent organizations.

• They are always conducted scientifically.

• They are designed to show support for partisan interests.

• They are always accurate.

What can degrade public trust in polling numbers?

• Understanding the difference between scientific and non-scientific polls.

• Lumping all polls together regardless of their scientific rigor.

• Only trusting scientific polls.

• Ignoring all polls.

What is a potential consequence for politicians voting against popular policies?

• They are guaranteed re-election.

• They may suffer political disadvantages.

• They face no consequences.

• They gain more public support.

What is a key factor in the reliability of public opinion polls?

• The number of questions in the poll.

• The scientific rigor with which they are conducted.

• The popularity of the pollster.

• The time of day the poll is conducted.