What are the major types of political polls in use today and what are the defining characteristics of each?

What will be an ideal response?


National polls are designed to measure public opinion within a limited period of time using a national representative sample. The ultimate purpose of these polls is to measure knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes. Campaign polls, which are done for candidates are part of their efforts to win election, include benchmark, tracking, and exit polls. Benchmark polls are used to gather baseline information about how well a candidate is known, what issues people associate with a particular candidate, what issues people are concerned about, as well as assessing the opposition. Tracking polls follow changes in attitudes toward a candidate. Exit polls collect data on voter choice, some demographic information, issue preferences, and candidate evaluation. Pseudo-Polls, including such things as self-selection polls, are typically more deceptive than beneficial as they can include anything from misleading information to outright fraud. Self-selection polls allow people to select themselves into a survey rather than being chosen randomly. Push polls are another type of pseudo-poll that present false or highly negative information, often in a hypothetical form, and then ask for respondents to react to it. Survey experiments are designed less to measure public opinion but rather deepen understanding of public attitudes, particularly with regard to controversial issues.

Political Science

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The Crusades were ______.

a. wars between European Christians and Near Eastern Muslims throughout the 13th and 14th centuries b. characterized by fighting for control of holy lands, particularly Jerusalem, by Christians and Muslims c. skirmishes between Christians, Muslims, and Jews for control of land in Europe d. wars between Christians and Jews for control of Jerusalem during the Middle Ages

Political Science

Which of the following is considered as an example of greed causing or aggravating civil war in a country?

A. a person joining the insurgency due to his ideological beliefs B. elements of the country's army helping insurgents plunder its natural resources and sharing the profits C. insurgents fighting a war out of moral indignation caused by the state D. insurgents fighting a war against genocide perpetrated by the state E. citizens joining an insurgency due to the rampant inefficacy of the elected government

Political Science

Property taxes are paid by property owners and are based on the ______ of their homes or businesses.

a. sale price b. historic value c. assessed value d. listed price

Political Science

In the context of functions of government, which of the following is true of power?

A) Its exercise is always recognized as socially moral and is protected by law. B) It involves getting someone to do something that he or she would not otherwise do. C) It necessarily involves the use of force. D) It implies legal action. E) Its exercise is universally illegal.

Political Science