Public Opinion and Political Socialization

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to public opinion and political socialization as discussed in the lecture.

Public Opinion

A collection of popular views about a person, event, or idea, often measured through polling.

Political Socialization

The process through which individuals learn about and develop their political beliefs and values, usually starting in childhood.

Polling

The collection of data about public opinion through surveys and interviews to gauge people's attitudes or behaviors.

Beliefs

Closely held ideas that support an individual's values and expectations about life and politics.

Attitudes

Preferences formed based on life experiences and values, affecting opinions on various issues.

Heuristics

Mental shortcuts or cues that individuals use to make decisions, often involving political party membership.

Straw Polls

Informal polls that collect opinions from a non-random population or group.

Margin of Error

A number expressing the amount of uncertainty in a poll's results, indicating how much the results could vary from the true population value.

Sample Size

The number of respondents surveyed in a poll, which affects its accuracy.

Political Ideology

A set of beliefs and attitudes that shape an individual's opinions on political issues and policies.

Demographic Distribution

The structural composition of a population, often considered when sampling to ensure representativeness.

Exit Polls

Surveys conducted on Election Day to gauge voter behavior as they leave polling places.

Push Polls

Polls designed to influence respondents' opinions under the guise of data collection.

Delegate Representation

The theory that elected officials should act as representatives of the public's wishes.

Collective Mood

The overall mood or sentiment of the public, which can change over time based on various events.

Political Culture

The collection of attitudes, beliefs, and sentiments that shape a society's political behavior.

Polarization

The divergence of political attitudes to extreme positions, often seen between political parties.

Bully Pulpit

A platform used by a president to promote agenda and policies, leveraging public prominence to garner support.

Scientific Polling

A methodology of polling that applies statistical techniques to ensure representativeness and accuracy.

Interest Groups

Organizations of people who share common objectives and actively seek to influence policymakers.