AP Government and Politics Flashcards: Evaluating Public Opinion Data

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Evaluating Public Opinion Data, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Government and Politics.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Define 'cross-sectional survey'.

Answer: A survey conducted at one point in time to collect data from a sample. Provides a snapshot of opinions at one moment.

Flashcard 2: What is the benefit of using Likert scales in questionnaires?

Answer: They allow respondents to express degrees of opinion. Captures nuanced opinions beyond simple yes/no responses.

Flashcard 3: Define 'leading question' in surveys.

Answer: A question that prompts a particular response. Subtly guides respondents toward a specific answer.

Flashcard 4: Define 'nonresponse bias'.

Answer: Bias introduced when respondents differ from non-respondents. Those who respond may differ systematically from non-respondents.

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 'acquiescence bias'.

Answer: Tendency for respondents to agree with statements as presented. People tend to say 'yes' to avoid conflict.

Flashcard 7: What is 'response bias'?

Answer: Bias that occurs when respondents answer questions untruthfully. Includes lying, misunderstanding, or social desirability effects.

Flashcard 8: 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 9: 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 10: What is a quota sample?

Answer: A non-random sample reflecting specific characteristics of the population. Uses predetermined quotas rather than random selection.

Flashcard 11: What is a tracking poll?

Answer: A poll repeated periodically to measure changes in opinion. Shows trends and opinion shifts over time periods.

Flashcard 12: 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 13: Identify a factor that can increase survey reliability.

Answer: Consistent administration of questions. Standardization reduces variability in responses.

Flashcard 14: Identify a potential problem with self-administered surveys.

Answer: Higher likelihood of misunderstanding questions. No interviewer present to clarify confusing questions.

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: Define 'nonresponse bias'.

Answer: Bias introduced when respondents differ from non-respondents. Those who respond may differ systematically from non-respondents.

Flashcard 17: 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 18: Identify a common issue with online surveys.

Answer: Potential for non-random sampling and self-selection bias. Participants choose themselves, creating unrepresentative samples.

Flashcard 19: 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 20: 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 21: Identify a disadvantage of telephone surveys.

Answer: Exclusion of households without landlines or those who do not answer. Cell phones and caller ID reduce participation rates.

Flashcard 22: 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 23: What does 'response rate' measure in surveys?

Answer: The percentage of contacted individuals who complete the survey. Higher rates indicate more representative results.

Flashcard 24: Identify a factor that can increase survey reliability.

Answer: Consistent administration of questions. Standardization reduces variability in responses.

Flashcard 25: 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 26: What type of bias occurs when certain groups are overrepresented?

Answer: Selection bias. Occurs when the sample doesn't match population demographics.

Flashcard 27: 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 28: 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 29: What is the benefit of using Likert scales in questionnaires?

Answer: They allow respondents to express degrees of opinion. Captures nuanced opinions beyond simple yes/no responses.

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.

Flashcard 31: 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 32: Define 'non-sampling error'.

Answer: Errors not related to the act of selecting the sample. Includes response errors, interviewer bias, and data processing mistakes.

Flashcard 33: What is 'interviewer effect'?

Answer: Influence of the interviewer on the respondent's answers. Interviewer characteristics can bias respondent answers.

Flashcard 34: Identify a potential problem with self-administered surveys.

Answer: Higher likelihood of misunderstanding questions. No interviewer present to clarify confusing questions.

Flashcard 35: 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 36: 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 37: 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 38: 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 39: 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 40: 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 41: Define 'non-sampling error'.

Answer: Errors not related to the act of selecting the sample. Includes response errors, interviewer bias, and data processing mistakes.

Flashcard 42: Define 'push poll'.

Answer: A poll designed to influence respondents through loaded questions. It aims to sway opinion rather than measure it.

Flashcard 43: Which term describes a consistent pattern of opinion differences across subgroups?

Answer: Opinion cleavages. Reveals predictable opinion gaps between demographic groups.

Flashcard 44: What is a dichotomous question?

Answer: A question with only two possible responses. Forces respondents into either/or choices only.

Flashcard 45: Define 'cross-sectional survey'.

Answer: A survey conducted at one point in time to collect data from a sample. Provides a snapshot of opinions at one moment.

Flashcard 46: 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 47: Which term refers to the distribution of opinions on a particular issue?

Answer: Opinion distribution. Shows how opinions spread across different response categories.

Flashcard 48: What is a dichotomous question?

Answer: A question with only two possible responses. Forces respondents into either/or choices only.

Flashcard 49: 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 50: What is 'response bias'?

Answer: Bias that occurs when respondents answer questions untruthfully. Includes lying, misunderstanding, or social desirability effects.

Flashcard 51: 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 52: What is a quota sample?

Answer: A non-random sample reflecting specific characteristics of the population. Uses predetermined quotas rather than random selection.

Flashcard 53: 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 54: What type of bias occurs when certain groups are overrepresented?

Answer: Selection bias. Occurs when the sample doesn't match population demographics.

Flashcard 55: Define 'sample frame'.

Answer: A list of individuals from which a sample is drawn. The complete list of potential survey participants.

Flashcard 56: What is a longitudinal survey?

Answer: A survey that collects data from the same subjects over time. Tracks changes in individual opinions over time.

Flashcard 57: 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 58: 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 59: What is 'interviewer effect'?

Answer: Influence of the interviewer on the respondent's answers. Interviewer characteristics can bias respondent answers.

Flashcard 60: 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 61: Identify one method to improve poll accuracy.

Answer: Increase sample size for more precise results. Larger samples reduce margin of error significantly.

Flashcard 62: Which term describes a consistent pattern of opinion differences across subgroups?

Answer: Opinion cleavages. Reveals predictable opinion gaps between demographic groups.

Flashcard 63: Identify a disadvantage of telephone surveys.

Answer: Exclusion of households without landlines or those who do not answer. Cell phones and caller ID reduce participation rates.

Flashcard 64: Define 'sample frame'.

Answer: A list of individuals from which a sample is drawn. The complete list of potential survey participants.

Flashcard 65: 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 66: 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 67: Define 'push poll'.

Answer: A poll designed to influence respondents through loaded questions. It aims to sway opinion rather than measure it.

Flashcard 68: 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 69: 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 70: What is a tracking poll?

Answer: A poll repeated periodically to measure changes in opinion. Shows trends and opinion shifts over time periods.

Flashcard 71: What is a longitudinal survey?

Answer: A survey that collects data from the same subjects over time. Tracks changes in individual opinions over time.