PLS FINAL EXAM
PRACTICE STUDY
QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 2025-2026
Rational ignorance - ANS-The view that it makes sense to remain relatively uninformed
about most political issues, given the enormous effect required to keep up closely with
even a few topics.
Nonattitudes - ANS-The lack of a stable perspective in response to opinion surveys
Information shortcuts - ANS-Cues about candidates and policies drawn from everyday
life, party preferences, and significant figures like friends/family and trusted leaders.
Groupthink - ANS-The tendency among a small group of decision makers to converge
on a shared set of views
Mandate - ANS-Political authority claimed by an election winner as reflecting the
approval of the people.
Survey research - ANS-Systematic study of a defined population, analyzing a
representative sample's views to draw inferences about the larger public's views.
Approval rating - ANS-A measure of public support for a political figure or institution
, Executive order - ANS-A presidential declaration, with the force of law, that issues
instructions to the executive branch without any requirement for congressional action
or approval
Policy agenda - ANS-The issues that the public considers important, the media covers,
and politicians discuss.
Sampling frame - ANS-A designated group of people from whom a set of poll
respondents is randomly selected.
Demographic group - ANS-People sharing specific factors: ex- age, race, religion
Likely voters - ANS-Persons identified as probable voters in an upcoming election
Framing effects - ANS-The influence, on the respondent, of how a polling question is
asked; changes in wording can change people's answers
Push poll - ANS-A form of negative campaigning that masquerades as a regular opinion
survey.
Weighting - ANS-Pollsters' method of targeting specific groups of voters by assigning
greater or lesser value to responses from those groups.
Margin of sampling error - ANS-The degree of inaccuracy in any poll, arising from the
fact that surveys involve a sample of respondents from a population, rather than every
member.
Response bias - ANS-The tendency of poll respondents to misstate their views,
frequently to avoid "shameful" opinions like sexism or racism
Focus group - ANS-An extended discussion with a selected small group of people, run
by a trained moderator; generally yields in-depth insights into participants' political
concerns.
PRACTICE STUDY
QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 2025-2026
Rational ignorance - ANS-The view that it makes sense to remain relatively uninformed
about most political issues, given the enormous effect required to keep up closely with
even a few topics.
Nonattitudes - ANS-The lack of a stable perspective in response to opinion surveys
Information shortcuts - ANS-Cues about candidates and policies drawn from everyday
life, party preferences, and significant figures like friends/family and trusted leaders.
Groupthink - ANS-The tendency among a small group of decision makers to converge
on a shared set of views
Mandate - ANS-Political authority claimed by an election winner as reflecting the
approval of the people.
Survey research - ANS-Systematic study of a defined population, analyzing a
representative sample's views to draw inferences about the larger public's views.
Approval rating - ANS-A measure of public support for a political figure or institution
, Executive order - ANS-A presidential declaration, with the force of law, that issues
instructions to the executive branch without any requirement for congressional action
or approval
Policy agenda - ANS-The issues that the public considers important, the media covers,
and politicians discuss.
Sampling frame - ANS-A designated group of people from whom a set of poll
respondents is randomly selected.
Demographic group - ANS-People sharing specific factors: ex- age, race, religion
Likely voters - ANS-Persons identified as probable voters in an upcoming election
Framing effects - ANS-The influence, on the respondent, of how a polling question is
asked; changes in wording can change people's answers
Push poll - ANS-A form of negative campaigning that masquerades as a regular opinion
survey.
Weighting - ANS-Pollsters' method of targeting specific groups of voters by assigning
greater or lesser value to responses from those groups.
Margin of sampling error - ANS-The degree of inaccuracy in any poll, arising from the
fact that surveys involve a sample of respondents from a population, rather than every
member.
Response bias - ANS-The tendency of poll respondents to misstate their views,
frequently to avoid "shameful" opinions like sexism or racism
Focus group - ANS-An extended discussion with a selected small group of people, run
by a trained moderator; generally yields in-depth insights into participants' political
concerns.
