Unit 4

Demographics

The statistical study of populations, including the structure, distribution, and trends in size and composition.

Individualism

Being independent/self-reliant

Equality of Opportunity

People ought to be able to compete on a “level playing field” - and this is about opportunity, not outcomes.

Free Enterprise

The economy runs with few government restrictions-the idea is that the economy will take care of itself.

Rule of Law

“we are a government of laws, not men,”
We have laws we must all follow, regardless of wealth or position.

Limited Government

The government has predefined limits that are established by a Constitution and laws.

Ideology

A system of ideas or ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.
Your political ideology guides your political behavior.

Liberal

Liberals want government to be an agent of protection for both individuals and the economy; we want less foreign intervention regarding military involvement (focused on diplomacy and aid).

Conservative

Conservatives want government to not interfere with an individual’s daily life and have an unhindered economy; they want a strong international military presence for the U.S.

Moderates

Individuals who hold centrist views, balancing liberal and conservative positions on issues, often advocating for compromise and bipartisanship. Candidates fight hard for these voters.

Libertarians

Believe in smaller, less intrusive government. They want tax cuts and cut in military spending. Less is more. They would be for same-sex marriage and legalizing marijuana because government shouldn’t have a say in people’s lives.

Republicans

Follow Conservative ideology

Democrats

Follow liberal ideology

Keynesian Economics

Government can have a direct hand in economics when the economy is stagnating or falling apart. Government can hire the unemployed and have them do public works projects. Can raise taxes to get that done. Deficit spending is okay because it can boost the economy. This theory supports increased government spending to stimulate economic growth.

Supply-Side Economics

Economic theory advocating for lower taxes and decreased regulation to encourage investment and production. It posits that benefits for the wealthy will help the poor by being able to hire more people and produce more goods/services.

Political Socialization

The process by which individuals develop their political beliefs and values, influenced by family, education, peers, media, and social environments.

Gender Gap

The difference between voting for genders. Women are more likely to vote than men. Women also tend to be Democrats while men vote Republican. Women favor gun control and social programs. Men favor capital punishment and stronger U.S. military presence. There is little to no significant difference in how both groups feel about abortion.

Minority-Majority

There will come a time in the near future where minorities will be the majority in the United States.

Generational Effects

Experiences shared by a common Generation. (WWII, Cold War, 9/11, COVID)

Life Cycle Effects

Experiences a person encounters during different life stages (childhood, adolescence, marriage, etc.)

Major Political Events

Can influence a development of individual attitudes which becomes a form of socialization (Watergate, election of Obama, etc.)

Opinion Poll

A poll where you ask someone their opinion on a politician, issue, or event.

Benchmark Poll:

Usually taken at the start of the campaign before your candidate announces they are running. To see how much interest is in the candidate, to see if they are a viable candidate.

Tracking Poll

A poll you take with the same group of people and/or asking the same questions to measure any changes in how the people feel about candidates or an issue over the course of a campaign or political term.

Entrance Polls

Asking someone how they are going to vote when they get ready to go into a booth. Assuming people are telling you the truth. Fairly accurate.

Exit Polls

When you ask someone how they just voted right after they left the voting booth. Most accurate. Aren’t predicting their behavior, just telling you how they voted.

Identification of Respondents

Trying to get a reflection of the actual population, have to make sure respondents fit the mix you are trying to get. Their age, gender, ethnicity, region. You have to trust them when you ask them these things. Especially if doing it over the phone like how most polling is done.

Mass Survey

If you want 2000 respondents, you might have to contact about 10,000 people to get the right sample size. Think of all the people who would hang up halfway through the interview.

Focus Group

Purposefully select a small group of folks to ask them specific questions about a candidate or issue.

Citizens

Everyone who is a legal citizen in the country.

Electorate

Those people whoa re eligible to vote (18,registered, etc. )
Only about half of the electorate votes!!!

Sampling error

refers to the discrepancy between the results obtained from a sample and the actual characteristics of the population from which the sample is drawn. This concept is crucial when measuring public opinion because it highlights the potential inaccuracies that can arise when a subset of individuals is used to represent a larger group. Understanding sampling error helps in evaluating the reliability and validity of survey results and public opinion polls.

Political Attitudes

refers to an individual's consistent beliefs, values, and feelings about political issues, policies, and institutions. These can influence how people perceive political events and can shape their behaviors and choices in the political realm. Understanding shifts in TERM is crucial for recognizing broader changes in ideology within a society over time.

Reliability

Did you ask the right questions? Did you ask the right people? Did you get the right sample size?
When data is reliable, it means that repeated measurements or surveys yield similar outcomes, which increases the credibility of the information being presented.

Veracity

Are the results likely to be accurate/truthful?
How reputable are the sources of this information?

Sampling Techniques

There are various sampling techniques used in public opinion research, including random sampling, stratified sampling, cluster sampling, and quota sampling. Random sampling is a technique in which every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected for the sample. Stratified sampling involves dividing the population into subgroups (strata) and selecting a random sample from each stratum. Cluster sampling involves dividing the population into groups (clusters) and selecting a random sample of clusters, with all individuals in the selected clusters included in the sample. Quota sampling involves selecting a sample so that the proportions of specific characteristics in the sample match those in the population.

Marketplace

Essentially the world of trade