Week 5 Quiz1 What Are Three Factors That Contribute To Political ✓ Solved

1.) What are three factors that contribute to political socialization? How do they play a role in developing people's political views?

2.) What is an opinion poll? How is it carried out? How do politicians use polls?

3.) What is a leading question? Why do pollsters try to avoid them? What is a push poll? What are they used for?

4.) What is polarization? What are two factors that people believe contribute to political polarization? How do people think they lead to polarization?

5.) Why is a substantial sample size necessary to conduct an opinion poll? What does it mean for a poll to have a margin of error?

6.) What were some effects of the movement of the media to online media sources?

7.) What are the effects of the advertisement-driven media found in private media? What effects do they have on politics?

8.) What is a news aggregator? Why might someone use a news aggregator to get their news?

9.) What's the effect social media has on people's news media consumption?

10.) How does online media lead to political polarization? What are the factors that lead to people becoming divided as a result of the media that they consume online?

Paper For Above Instructions

Political socialization is a complex process through which individuals develop their political beliefs, attitudes, and values. There are several factors that significantly influence this process, including family, education, and media. Understanding these factors helps in analyzing how people form their political views.

Factors Contributing to Political Socialization

The first major factor in political socialization is family. Family members often serve as primary agents of socialization, instilling beliefs and values in children from a young age. Children typically adopt the political affiliations and opinions of their parents, which can lead to a generational continuity in political preferences. For instance, a child raised in a politically active household is more likely to become engaged in politics themselves (Huckfeldt & Sprague, 1995).

The second significant factor is education. Schools play a crucial role in shaping political attitudes by teaching students about civic duties, governance structures, and political history. Through participation in school activities such as student government and debate clubs, students are encouraged to engage with political issues critically and thoughtfully (Delli Carpini & Keeter, 1996).

The third factor is media. The media influences political socialization by providing information and framing issues in specific ways. Traditional media outlets, such as newspapers and television, as well as digital platforms, contribute to public perceptions of political events and figures. The rise of online media has broadened the scope of information available, yet it has also led to challenges such as misinformation and echo chambers (Sunstein, 2009).

Opinion Polls: Definition and Purpose

An opinion poll is a research survey that aims to gauge public opinion on various issues, candidates, or policies. Polling organizations collect data through methods such as telephone interviews, online surveys, or face-to-face interactions. Politicians utilize polls to understand public sentiment, guiding their campaign strategies and decision-making processes (Gallup, 2013).

Avoiding Leading Questions in Polls

Leading questions are designed to prompt a specific response and can bias the results of a poll. Pollsters strive to avoid these questions to ensure that responses accurately reflect the public's true opinions. On the other hand, push polls are used to sway public opinion under the guise of collecting data, often using misleading information to influence respondents (Krosnick, 1999).

Understanding Polarization

Polarization refers to the growing ideological divide among the populace, where individuals increasingly align with extreme positions and show hostility towards opposing views. Factors contributing to political polarization include social identity and media consumption. Social identity theory suggests that individuals derive part of their identity from the political groups they belong to, leading to an "us vs. them" mentality (Tajfel & Turner, 1986). Additionally, selective exposure to media reinforces existing beliefs and may contribute to polarization by creating echo chambers (Stroud, 2010).

Importance of Sample Size in Opinion Polls

A substantial sample size is crucial in opinion polls to enhance the reliability of the results. A larger sample reduces the margin of error, which indicates the range within which the true population parameter lies. A smaller margin of error allows for more confidence in the outcomes of the poll (Babbie, 2016).

The Shift to Online Media

The transition of media to online platforms has had several notable effects, such as instantaneous access to information and the democratization of news dissemination. However, this shift also poses challenges, including the prevalence of misinformation and the difficulty of discerning credible sources (Lazer et al., 2018).

Advertisement-Driven Media and Politics

In advertisement-driven media, funding often shapes content, resulting in a focus on sensationalism rather than objective reporting. This can lead to biased political coverage, where certain perspectives receive more attention while others are marginalized. Such dynamics influence public perception and could affect voter behavior (McChesney, 2008).

The Role of News Aggregators

News aggregators collect and present headlines from multiple sources, allowing users to access diverse viewpoints and stay informed. Many individuals use news aggregators to filter news based on personal interests, making it easier to navigate the vast landscape of information available online (Cohen, 2014).

Social Media's Influence on News Consumption

Social media has transformed how people consume news, enabling users to engage with content through sharing and commenting. This interactivity can enhance civic engagement but can also result in the spread of misinformation and reinforce polarization among political factions (Boulianne, 2015).

Media-Driven Political Polarization

Online media contributes to political polarization by offering tailored content that aligns with users' ideological preferences. Algorithms curate news feeds to prioritize stories that engage already-held beliefs, leading to a divided and polarized society (Sunstein, 2018). Furthermore, the anonymity of online interactions can intensify hostility between opposing viewpoints, deterring productive dialogue.

Conclusion

In conclusion, political socialization is influenced by various factors such as family, education, and media. These elements play a critical role in shaping individuals’ political perspectives and behaviors. Understanding the mechanisms of opinion polling, the impacts of media transitions, and the dynamics of polarization offers valuable insights into contemporary political discourse.

References

  • Babbie, E. (2016). The Basics of Social Research. Cengage Learning.

  • Boulianne, S. (2015). Social Media Use and Participation: A Meta-Analysis of Current Research. Social Science Computer Review, 33(3), 319-340.

  • Cohen, A. (2014). The Power of News Aggregators: How They Shape Our News Readings. Journal of Media Economics, 27(1), 2-10.

  • Delli Carpini, M. X., & Keeter, S. (1996). What Americans Know About Politics and Why It Matters. Yale University Press.

  • Gallup (2013). The Importance of Polling. The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion 2012, 3-44.

  • Huckfeldt, R., & Sprague, J. (1995). Citizens, Politics, and Social Communication: Information and Influence in an Election Campaign. Cambridge University Press.

  • Krosnick, J. A. (1999). Survey Research. Annual Review of Psychology, 50, 537-567.

  • Lazer, D. M. J., Baum, M. A., Benkler, Y., et al. (2018). The Science of Fake News: Addressing Fake News in a Digital Age. Science, 359(6380), 1094-1096.

  • McChesney, R. W. (2008). The Political Economy of Media: Enduring Issues, Emerging Dilemmas. Monthly Review Press.

  • Stroud, N. J. (2010). Polarization and the News: How selective exposure and avoidance amplify polarization. Journal of Communication, 60(3), 350-367.

  • Sunstein, C. R. (2009). On Rumors: How Falsehoods Spread, Why We Believe Them, and What Can Be Done. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

  • Sunstein, C. R. (2018). #Republic: Divided Democracy in the Age of Social Media. Princeton University Press.

  • Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. (1986). The Social Identity Theory of Intergroup Behavior. In S. Worchel & W. G. Austin (Eds.), Psychology of Intergroup Relations (pp. 7-24). Nelson-Hall.