What is the primary purpose of conducting public opinion polls?
a) To influence government decisions
b) To accurately predict election outcomes
c) To measure and assess public attitudes and preferences
d) To promote specific political ideologies
Answer: c) To measure and assess public attitudes and preferences
Which of the following is a common method used to conduct public opinion polls?
a) Sampling
b) Lobbying
c) Gerrymandering
d) Defamation
Answer: a) Sampling
What is the term for the group of people selected to participate in a poll and represent the larger population?
a) Campaign committee
b) Sample population
c) Focus group
d) Sample
Answer: d) Sample
Which factor helps ensure the accuracy of a public opinion poll?
a) Overgeneralization
b) Self-selection bias
c) Random sampling
d) Leading questions
Answer: c) Random sampling
What does the term “margin of error” refer to in public opinion polling?
a) The difference between actual and reported results
b) The uncertainty due to using a sample rather than the entire population
c) The manipulation of survey data
d) The bias introduced by question wording
Answer: b) The uncertainty due to using a sample rather than the entire population
Which type of poll is conducted to gauge public opinion on a particular issue or topic?
a) Exit poll
b) Tracking poll
c) Straw poll
d) Issue poll
Answer: d) Issue poll
What is the main purpose of an exit poll?
a) To measure public sentiment before an election
b) To predict election outcomes
c) To track changes in public opinion over time
d) To identify the demographics of voters
Answer: b) To predict election outcomes
Which of the following is a potential limitation of public opinion polls?
a) Objective data collection
b) High cost
c) Representative sampling
d) Instantaneous results
Answer: b) High cost
What is a “push poll”?
a) A poll conducted with a small sample size
b) A poll conducted only with registered voters
c) A poll designed to sway public opinion rather than measure it
d) A poll conducted immediately after an election
Answer: c) A poll designed to sway public opinion rather than measure it
What is the term for the phenomenon in which respondents tend to answer questions in a way that will be viewed favorably by others?
a) Bandwagon effect
b) Social desirability bias
c) Confirmation bias
d) Selection bias
Answer: b) Social desirability bias
Which of the following is a method used to ensure that a poll’s sample is representative of the larger population?
a) Convenient sampling
b) Purposive sampling
c) Quota sampling
d) Convenience sampling
Answer: c) Quota sampling
What is the “bandwagon effect” in the context of public opinion?
a) The tendency to answer questions in a way that is socially desirable
b) The influence of media coverage on public opinion
c) The tendency to support a candidate or position that is perceived as popular
d) The distortion of poll results due to leading questions
Answer: c) The tendency to support a candidate or position that is perceived as popular
Which of the following factors can contribute to the inaccuracy of a public opinion poll?
a) Large sample size
b) Low response rate
c) Random sampling
d) Clear question wording
Answer: b) Low response rate
What is a “push question”?
a) A question designed to elicit a specific response
b) A question that measures public opinion on a controversial issue
c) A question asked during an exit poll
d) A question with multiple answer options
Answer: a) A question designed to elicit a specific response
Which type of poll is conducted repeatedly over time to track changes in public opinion?
a) Straw poll
b) Tracking poll
c) Exit poll
d) Sample poll
Answer: b) Tracking poll
What is the term for the deliberate manipulation of survey data to achieve a desired outcome?
a) Randomization
b) Confirmation bias
c) Margin of error
d) Data fudging
Answer: d) Data fudging
What is the primary purpose of a straw poll?
a) To predict election outcomes
b) To measure public opinion on a specific issue
c) To assess the demographic characteristics of voters
d) To measure exit poll accuracy
Answer: b) To measure public opinion on a specific issue
What does a “leading question” in a poll do?
a) Provides a range of answer options
b) Presents the question in a neutral manner
c) Influences respondents to answer in a certain way
d) Focuses on demographic information
Answer: c) Influences respondents to answer in a certain way
Which of the following is a potential consequence of polling inaccuracies?
a) Decreased public interest in politics
b) Increased voter turnout
c) Enhanced trust in government institutions
d) Misleading election predictions
Answer: d) Misleading election predictions
What is a “confidence interval” in the context of public opinion polling?
a) The range within which the true population parameter is likely to fall
b) The difference between actual and reported results
c) The percentage of respondents who answer a question correctly
d) The proportion of the population included in the sample
Answer: a) The range within which the true population parameter is likely to fall
Which type of poll involves asking people to respond to a specific question with “yes” or “no”?
a) Open-ended poll
b) Closed-ended poll
c) Likert scale poll
d) Deliberative poll
Answer: b) Closed-ended poll
Which term refers to the tendency of some respondents to agree with all the statements in a survey, regardless of their content?
a) Response bias
b) Confirmation bias
c) Acquiescence bias
d) Social desirability bias
Answer: c) Acquiescence bias
What is a “panel survey”?
a) A survey conducted only with members of a specific political party
b) A survey conducted with a large and diverse sample
c) A survey conducted repeatedly with the same group of respondents over time
d) A survey conducted immediately after an election
Answer: c) A survey conducted repeatedly with the same group of respondents over time
Which term refers to the tendency of respondents to avoid extreme positions and choose a middle option?
a) Moderation bias
b) Polarization bias
c) Central tendency
d) Response bias
Answer: c) Central tendency
What is “nonresponse bias” in public opinion polling?
a) The tendency to manipulate poll results for personal gain
b) The tendency of respondents to select “no opinion” as their answer
c) The influence of media coverage on poll outcomes
d) The bias introduced when those who respond to a survey differ from those who do not
Answer: d) The bias introduced when those who respond to a survey differ from those who do not
Which of the following terms refers to the phenomenon in which people provide socially acceptable responses rather than their true opinions?
a) Bandwagon effect
b) Self-selection bias
c) Social desirability bias
d) Polarization bias
Answer: c) Social desirability bias
What is the primary goal of an entrance poll?
a) To measure public sentiment before an election
b) To predict election outcomes
c) To assess the demographic characteristics of voters
d) To measure public opinion on specific issues
Answer: a) To measure public sentiment before an election
Which type of question allows respondents to provide detailed and open-ended answers?
a) Closed-ended question
b) Multiple-choice question
c) Likert scale question
d) Open-ended question
Answer: d) Open-ended question
What is “response bias” in public opinion polling?
a) The tendency to manipulate poll results for personal gain
b) The tendency of respondents to select extreme positions
c) The distortion of poll results due to leading questions
d) The influence of media coverage on poll outcomes
Answer: b) The tendency of respondents to select extreme positions
Which type of question presents a statement and asks respondents to indicate their level of agreement or disagreement?
a) Open-ended question
b) Closed-ended question
c) Likert scale question
d) Deliberative question
Answer: c) Likert scale question
What is a “quota sample” in public opinion polling?
a) A sample selected from a specific geographic area
b) A sample that includes equal proportions of different groups
c) A sample selected based on specific characteristics
d) A sample that includes only registered voters
Answer: b) A sample that includes equal proportions of different groups
Which of the following is an example of a nonprobability sampling method?
a) Random sampling
b) Quota sampling
c) Simple random sampling
d) Systematic sampling
Answer: b) Quota sampling
What is the “mode” in statistics?
a) The average value in a set of data
b) The most frequently occurring value in a set of data
c) The middle value in a set of data
d) The difference between the highest and lowest values in a set of data
Answer: b) The most frequently occurring value in a set of data
Which of the following is a characteristic of a reliable public opinion poll?
a) Low response rate
b) Leading questions
c) Biased sample
d) Replicable results
Answer: d) Replicable results
What is “confirmation bias” in the context of public opinion polling?
a) The tendency to select respondents who already hold certain opinions
b) The tendency to select a sample that is not representative of the population
c) The tendency to seek out and interpret information in a way that confirms preexisting beliefs
d) The influence of media coverage on poll outcomes
Answer: c) The tendency to seek out and interpret information in a way that confirms preexisting beliefs
What is a “stratified sample” in public opinion polling?
a) A sample that includes only registered voters
b) A sample selected based on specific characteristics
c) A sample that includes equal proportions of different groups
d) A sample selected from a specific geographic area
Answer: b) A sample selected based on specific characteristics
Which of the following is a potential source of bias in public opinion polling?
a) Random sampling
b) Clear question wording
c) Nonresponse bias
d) High response rate
Answer: c) Nonresponse bias
What is a “Likert scale” in public opinion polling?
a) A method of random sampling
b) A type of exit poll
c) A method of quota sampling
d) A type of survey question that measures the intensity of respondents’ agreement or disagreement
Answer: d) A type of survey question that measures the intensity of respondents’ agreement or disagreement
Which type of question in a survey offers respondents a range of answer options?
a) Open-ended question
b) Closed-ended question
c) Likert scale question
d) Deliberative question
Answer: b) Closed-ended question
Which of the following is a potential benefit of using a representative sample in a public opinion poll?
a) Increased likelihood of confirmation bias
b) Greater accuracy in reflecting the opinions of the larger population
c) Simplified data analysis
d) Enhanced media coverage
Answer: b) Greater accuracy in reflecting the opinions of the larger population
Which of the following is a potential disadvantage of using a convenience sample in a public opinion poll?
a) Limited access to online survey tools
b) Reduced likelihood of self-selection bias
c) Lack of diversity and representativeness
d) Greater cost and time commitment
Answer: c) Lack of diversity and representativeness
What is the term for the phenomenon in which respondents choose the first available response option without fully considering their preferences?
a) Acquiescence bias
b) Primacy effect
c) Recency effect
d) Response bias
Answer: b) Primacy effect
Which of the following is an example of a self-selection bias in public opinion polling?
a) Including respondents from diverse demographics
b) Asking leading questions
c) Offering financial incentives to respondents
d) Allowing individuals to choose whether or not to participate in the survey
Answer: d) Allowing individuals to choose whether or not to participate in the survey
What is the term for the tendency of respondents to provide extreme answers regardless of the question?
a) Extreme bias
b) Polarization bias
c) Acquiescence bias
d) Biased response
Answer: b) Polarization bias
Which of the following is a way to reduce nonresponse bias in public opinion polling?
a) Using leading questions
b) Using convenience sampling
c) Offering financial incentives to respondents
d) Manipulating poll results
Answer: c) Offering financial incentives to respondents
What is the term for the tendency of respondents to select the last available response option without fully considering their preferences?
a) Acquiescence bias
b) Primacy effect
c) Recency effect
d) Response bias
Answer: c) Recency effect
Which of the following is an example of a convenience sampling method?
a) Selecting every nth person from a list
b) Randomly selecting households from a city
c) Surveying individuals who are readily available
d) Using demographic quotas to select respondents
Answer: c) Surveying individuals who are readily available
What is the term for the phenomenon in which respondents tend to select “no opinion” when they lack knowledge about the topic?
a) Response bias
b) Social desirability bias
c) Confirmation bias
d) Acquiescence bias
Answer: a) Response bias
Which type of question in a survey offers respondents the opportunity to express their opinions in their own words?
a) Open-ended question
b) Closed-ended question
c) Likert scale question
d) Deliberative question
Answer: a) Open-ended question
What is a “deliberative poll”?
a) A poll that assesses public sentiment before an election
b) A poll that measures the opinions of registered voters
c) A poll that uses a Likert scale for responses
d) A poll that involves informed and facilitated discussions before respondents answer the survey questions
Answer: d) A poll that involves informed and facilitated discussions before respondents answer the survey questions
