All flashcards
Flashcard 1: What is the definition of public opinion?
Answer: Public opinion is the aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs about a specific issue or topic. It's the collective view of a population on an issue.
Flashcard 2: Identify the term for a sample that accurately reflects the population.
Answer: Representative sample. This ensures the sample mirrors the larger population's characteristics.
Flashcard 3: What is the purpose of a random sample in polling?
Answer: To ensure each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected. Randomization eliminates bias and makes results generalizable.
Flashcard 4: Which term describes the difference between the sample result and the true population value?
Answer: Sampling error. It's the natural variation between sample and population values.
Flashcard 5: What is a 'straw poll'?
Answer: An unofficial ballot conducted as a test of opinion. It's an informal survey with no scientific methodology.
Flashcard 6: Identify the effect of question wording on poll results.
Answer: Question wording can bias responses and affect results. Leading or unclear language skews respondent answers.
Flashcard 7: What type of bias occurs when certain groups are overrepresented?
Answer: Selection bias. Occurs when the sample doesn't match population demographics.
Flashcard 8: Define 'push poll'.
Answer: A poll designed to influence respondents through loaded questions. It aims to sway opinion rather than measure it.
Flashcard 9: What is a tracking poll?
Answer: A poll repeated periodically to measure changes in opinion. Shows trends and opinion shifts over time periods.
Flashcard 10: Choose the primary advantage of exit polls.
Answer: They provide immediate data on election day voter behavior. Captures actual voter choices rather than intentions.
Flashcard 11: Identify one method to improve poll accuracy.
Answer: Increase sample size for more precise results. Larger samples reduce margin of error significantly.
Flashcard 12: What is social desirability bias in polling?
Answer: Respondents provide socially acceptable answers rather than truthful ones. People give answers they think are socially acceptable.
Flashcard 13: What does 'oversampling' mean in the context of surveys?
Answer: Increasing the sample size of a particular group to ensure representation. Used to capture minority viewpoints in analysis.
Flashcard 14: Define 'nonresponse bias'.
Answer: Bias introduced when respondents differ from non-respondents. Those who respond may differ systematically from non-respondents.
Flashcard 15: Which term refers to the distribution of opinions on a particular issue?
Answer: Opinion distribution. Shows how opinions spread across different response categories.
Flashcard 16: Identify a potential problem with self-administered surveys.
Answer: Higher likelihood of misunderstanding questions. No interviewer present to clarify confusing questions.
Flashcard 17: What is a quota sample?
Answer: A non-random sample reflecting specific characteristics of the population. Uses predetermined quotas rather than random selection.
Flashcard 18: What does 'response rate' measure in surveys?
Answer: The percentage of contacted individuals who complete the survey. Higher rates indicate more representative results.
Flashcard 19: Identify the primary purpose of demographic questions in polls.
Answer: To categorize respondents and analyze subgroup differences. Enables comparison of opinions across different groups.
Flashcard 20: What is a focus group in the context of public opinion research?
Answer: A small group discussion to explore opinions on specific topics. Provides qualitative insights into opinion formation.
Flashcard 21: Which term describes a consistent pattern of opinion differences across subgroups?
Answer: Opinion cleavages. Reveals predictable opinion gaps between demographic groups.
Flashcard 22: Define 'leading question' in surveys.
Answer: A question that prompts a particular response. Subtly guides respondents toward a specific answer.
Flashcard 23: Identify a factor that can increase survey reliability.
Answer: Consistent administration of questions. Standardization reduces variability in responses.
Flashcard 24: What is a dichotomous question?
Answer: A question with only two possible responses. Forces respondents into either/or choices only.
Flashcard 25: What does 'weighting' mean in the context of survey data?
Answer: Adjusting results to reflect the population more accurately. Corrects for demographic imbalances in the sample.
Flashcard 26: What does it mean if a poll has a 'high variance'?
Answer: Greater dispersion of responses, indicating less consensus. Wide opinion spread shows divided public sentiment.
Flashcard 27: Identify the effect of 'acquiescence bias'.
Answer: Tendency for respondents to agree with statements as presented. People tend to say 'yes' to avoid conflict.
Flashcard 28: Define 'sample frame'.
Answer: A list of individuals from which a sample is drawn. The complete list of potential survey participants.
Flashcard 29: What is the primary purpose of pretesting survey questions?
Answer: To identify and rectify unclear or biased questions. Tests prevent problematic questions from reaching final survey.
Flashcard 30: Identify a common issue with online surveys.
Answer: Potential for non-random sampling and self-selection bias. Participants choose themselves, creating unrepresentative samples.