AP GOV 4.4-4.5

Guiding Question

How do significant events influence political attitudes

Influence of major political events

Each generation has its own political and economic events that bring about dynamic social change. Living through these events has an influence on political attitudes and socialization.

How events shaped the older generation

-generation to endure great depression, WWII, Cold War( Vietnam War)

-they tend to favor gov’t involvement in social life because of NEW DEAL and SSS

-they have trust in gov’t and support for the role of gov’t in providing safety net

-Events like war created a sense of united purpose and a belief in reliability of the gov’t and also redefined gender roles(women). Unlike the boomers, these generation supported their way into Vietnam and refrained from criticizing the gov’t despite failure.

How events shaped the Baby Boomers

-Known to lived in a time of assassinations, protest, people challenging the gov’t.

-They felt they had the power to bring about social changes through their actions

-active democracy engaged members of society over life and death matters

-shift from democratic to Republican party as party took on more liberal social views

How the younger generation were shaped by events

-generation to experience the 9/11 and military conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq

-Events that threaten national security and counter-terrorism measures, which also led to patriotism and some trust in gov’t

-group that wants US to stay out of world affairs and became politically active during the Great Recession

-They want gov’t intervention in a failing economy

New Deal Coalition

The New Deal Coalition refers to the diverse group of voters and interest groups that came together in support of the Democratic Party during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s

Iraq invasion

A conflict that began in 2003 when the United States, along with coalition forces, invaded Iraq, aiming to topple the regime of President Saddam Hussein. The war was justified by the U.S. government on the grounds that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and had ties to terrorist groups

Great Recession

A severe global economic downturn that occurred from late 2007 to mid-2009, marking the most significant financial crisis since the Great Depression.

Measuring Public Opinion

Mining the views of Americans has been a keen interest of political scientists and a major industry in this age of data

Polling is the most reliable way to access public opinion(can be used in elections, universities, or for collecting data

It entails posing well-developed, objective questions to a small, random group of people to find out what a larger group thinks

Benchmark polls

-usually first type of poll used before a candidate has declared his or her intentions

-used to measure support for a candidate and to gather information about issues people care

Tracking Polls

ask people questions to measure how prospective voters feel about an issue and how they may vote on election day. This helps candidates make decisions for shaping the campaign in the final weeks of election

Entrance and Exit Polls

conducted outside polling places on election day to publicly predict the outcome of the election after the polls close . Used to help offer prediction as well as gain insight into thoughts and behaviors of voters, and how different demographics voted.

Approval ratings

Gauged by pollsters asking whether the respondents approves yes or no of the president’s job performance.

Focus group

A small group of citizens who are gathered to hold conversations about issues or candidates. It allows for follow-up questions and examine body language and intensity.

Methodology

a system of methods used in a particular area of study or activity.

Questions used as a method

Pollsters phrase survey questions to avoid skewing the results. Wording, question order, how its framed affects responses.

sampling techniques

assure an accurate poll with a random and fair representation of the population

Representative sample

a group for people meant to represent the large group in question

Importance of random sample

every member has equal chance of selection into sample, make it as diverse so there is no bias and everyone is represented equally

random-digit dialing

A computer randomly calls possible numbers in a given area until enough people respond to establish a representative sample.

Weighting or stratification

manuplating the sample to compensate for bias

sampling error(margin of error)

the difference between poll results, sample size and margin of error has inverse relationship

Push polling

attempt to push certain views