Agent of political socialization
A person or entity that teaches and influences others about politics through use of information.
Bandwagon effect
Increased media coverage of candidates who poll high.
Bradley effect
The difference between a poll result and an election result in which voters gave a socially desirable poll response rather than a true response that might be perceived as racist.
Classical liberalism
A political ideology based on belief in individual liberties and rights and the idea of free will, with little role for government.
Communism
A political and economic system in which, in theory, government promotes common ownership of all property, means of production, and materials to prevent the exploitation of workers while creating an equal society; in practice, most of these governments have used force to maintain control.
Covert content
Ideologically slanted information presented as unbiased information in order to influence public opinion.
Diffuse support
The widespread belief that a country and its legal system are legitimate.
Exit poll
An election poll taken by interviewing voters as they leave a polling place.
Fascism
A political system of total control by the ruling party or political leader over the economy, the military, society, and culture and often the private lives of citizens.
Favorability poll
A public opinion poll that measure’s a public’s positive feelings about a candidate or politician.
Heuristics
Shortcuts or rules of thumb for decision making.
Horserace coverage
Day-to-day media coverage of a candidate of a candidate performance in an election.
Leading question
A question worded to lead a respondent to give a desired response.
Margin of error
A number that states how far the poll results may be from the actual preferences of the total population of citizens.
Modern conservatism
A political ideology that prioritizes individual liberties, preferring a smaller government that stays out of the economy.
Modern liberalism
A political ideology focused on equality and supporting a government intervention in society and the economy if it promotes equality.
Overt content
Political information whose author makes clear that only one side is presented.
Political culture
The prevailing political attitudes and beliefs within a society or region.
Political elite
A political opinion leader who alerts the public to changes or problems.
Political socialization
The process of learning the norms and practices of a political system through others and societal institutions.
Public opinion
A collection of opinions of an individual or a group of individuals on a topic, person, or event.
Push polll
Politically biased campaign information presented as a poll in order to change minds
Random sample
A limited number of people from the overall population selected in such a way that each has an equal chance of being chosen.
Representative sample
A group of respondents demographically similar to the population of interest.
