Mr. McCormackBig Idea Worksheet

American GovernmentStudy Guide

Chapter 8 – Mass Media and Public Opinion

Section One: The Formation of Public Opinion (p 208-213)

There are very few matters about which all or nearly all of the ______think alike. The public holds many ______and often ______views on nearly every public issue. (p 208)

A ______, of which there are many, is made up of all of those ______who hold the same view on some particular public issue. Not many issues capture the attention of ______. (p 208)

Public affairs include ______, ______, and the making of ______. (p 208)

______consists of those attitudes held by a significant number of people on matters of ______and ______. (p 209)

People who have similar opinions on political issues are generally grouped according to whether they are “left,” “right,” or “center” on the political spectrum. Please reproduce the political spectrum and define its different labels. (p 209)

Conservative: ______

Example: The Republican Party

Liberal: ______

Example: The Democratic Party

Moderate: ______

Example: There is no “moderate” party in the United States. Moderates tend to be independent or switch between Democrats and Republicans.

Radical: ______

Example: The Communist Party

Reactionary: ______

Example: The Fascist Party

Please complete the following chart describing the formation of public opinion. (p 209-213)

Influence / How does it shape political opinions?
Family
Schools
Mass Media
Peer Groups
Opinion Leaders
Historic Events

Mr. McCormackBig Idea Worksheet

American GovernmentStudy Guide

Chapter 8 – Mass Media and Public Opinion

Section Two: Measuring Public Opinion (p 215-221)

Please describe and evaluate various ways elected officials can gauge public opinion. (p 215-217)

Measuring
Tools / How It Measures
Public Opinion / Why It’s a
Good Measure / Why It’s a
Bad Measure
Elections
Interest Groups
Media
Personal Contacts

Public opinion is best measured by ______that are based on scientific techniques. (p 217)

Most early polls were of the ______variety and not very reliable. To conduct one, you simple ask the same question of a large number of people. The problem is that nothing ensures that those who respond will represent a reasonably accurate ______of the whole population. (p 217)

The most famous mishap occurred in 1936 when ______predicted that FDR would lose (he actually won more than 60% of the popular vote). Their participants were drawn from ______and ______, two groups that included very few poor people and minorities. (p 217)

Serious scientific polling began in the 1930s with early pollsters such as ______and ______. (p 217)

Please explain the five steps in conducting a scientific poll: (p 218-220)

1. ______

2. ______

3. ______

4. ______

5. ______

It is difficult to measure the ______, ______, and ______of public opinion in polls. (p 220)

Why should polls only have a limited effect on public policy? (p 221) ______

______
Mr. McCormackBig Idea Worksheet

American GovernmentStudy Guide

Chapter 8 – Mass Media and Public Opinion

Section Three: The Mass Media (p 223-230)

A ______is a means of communication; it transmits some kind of ______. ______include those means of communication that reach large, widely-dispersed audiences ______. (p 223)

Four major types are especially important in American politics: ______, ______, ______, and ______. Other, less impactful forms of media include: ______, ______, ______, ______, and the ______. (p 223)

Please describe the role played by each of the following. (p 223-228)

Type / Examples / Extent of Influence
Television
Newspapers
Radio
Magazines

The media’s influence is most visible in two areas: ______and ______. (p 228)

The media will determine ______the people will think and talk about, and to a lesser extent, their attitudes toward it. (p 228)

The media, and in particular ______, has contributed to the decline of ______in politics. (p 228)

Candidates regularly try to manipulate ______to their advantage and plan campaigns that emphasize ______. (p 229)

______and carefully ______visits to appealing places are now a part of the electoral scene. (p 229)

What are some factors that limit the media’s impact on the voting public? (p 229-230)

1. ______

2. ______

3. ______