POL 161-Ch. 9: Public Opinion and the Media
Terms
undefined, object
copy deck
- prior restraint
- an effort by a government agency to block the publication of material it deems libelous or harmful in some othe way; censorship
- fairness doctrine
- an FCC requirement that broadcasters who air programs on controversial issues provide time for opposing views
- gender gap
- a distintive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the differences in views between women and men
- liberal
- generally supports political and social reform; extensive governmental intervention in the economy; the expansion of federal social services; more vigorous efforts on behalf of the poor, minorities, and women; and greater concern for consumers and the environment
- framing
- the power of the media to influence how events and issues are interpreted
- political ideology
- a cohesive set of beliefs that form a general philosophy about the role of government
- right of rebuttal
- an FFC regulation giving individuals the right to have the opportunity to respond to personal attacks made on a radio or TV broadcast
- sample
- a small group selected by researchers to represent the most important characteristics of an entire population
- public opinion polls
- scientific instruments for measuring public opinion
- equal time rule
- the requirements that broadcasters provide candidates for the same political office an equal opportunity to communicate their messages to the public
- random digit dialing
- polls in which respondents are selected at random from a list of ten-digit telephone numbers, with every effort made to avoid bias in the construction of the sample
- agenda setting
- the power of the media to bring public attention to particular issues and problems
- priming
- when media coverage affects public perception and evaluation of political leaders and candidates
- probability sampling
- a method used by pollsters to select a representative sample in which every individual in the population has an equal probability of being selected as a respondent
- public opinion
- citizens' attitudes about political issues, personalities, institutions, and events
- measurement error
- failure to identify the true distribution of opinion within a population because of errors such as ambiguous or poorly worded questions
- agencies of socialization
- social institutions, including families and schools, that help to shape individuals' basic political beliefs and values
- sampling error
- a polling error that arises on account of the small size of the sample
- attitude/opinion
- a specific preference on a particular issue
- illusion of salience
- impression conveyed by polls that something is important to the public when actually it is not
- bandwagon effect
- a situation wherein reports of voter or delegate opinion can influence the actual outcome of an election or a nominating convention
- political socialization
- the induction of individuals into the political culture; learning the underlying beliefs and values upon which the political system is based
- salient interests
- attitudes and views that are especially important to the individual holding them
- selection bias
- polling error that arises when the sample is not representative of the population being studied, which creates errors in overrepresenting or underrepresenting some opinions
- values/beliefs
- basic principles that shape a person's opinions about political issues and events
- push polling
- a polling technique in which the questions are designed to shape the respondent's opinion
- equality of opportunity
- a universally shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential
- conservative
- generally supports the social and economic status quo and is suspicious of efforts to introduce new political formulae and economic arrangements; believe that a large and powerful government powers a threat to citizens' freedom