Chapter 8 definitions Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Chapter 8 definitions Deck (15)
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1
Q

public opinion

A

attitudes helped by a significant amount of people on matters of government and politics; collection of opinions from many different people; all people agree on almost no issue

2
Q

public affairs

A

those events and issues that concern the public at large (politics, public policies, etc)

3
Q

political socialization

A

the process of being exposed to and learning about politics

4
Q

mass media

A

means of communication that reach large, widely disperse audiences simutaneously

5
Q

peer groups

A

people whom we regularly associate with

6
Q

opinion leader

A

a person who has an unusually strong influence on the views of others

7
Q

mandate

A

instructions or demands the voters give to elected officials

8
Q

interest groups

A

private organizations whose members share certain views and objectives and work to shape the making and content of public policies

9
Q

public opinion polls

A

attempt to collect information by asking people questions

10
Q

straw votes

A

ask the same question to a large amount of people

11
Q

sample

A

a representative slice of the people to be polled

12
Q

random sample

A

randomly selected people who fit the definition of people to be polled

13
Q

quota sample

A

deliberately constructed to reflect the major characteristics of those polled

14
Q

medium

A

a means of communication

15
Q

public agenda

A

societal problems that the nation’s political leaders and the general public agree need government attention