PSCI 2305 1 REVIEW
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026
FULL QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◍ Average turnout in presidential elections.
Answer: ~55-60% of voting-eligible population
◍ Voter turnout by education and income.
Answer: Higher education and income → higher turnout
◍ Paradox of voting.
Answer: Rationally one vote rarely matters, but people vote due to
duty/expressive benefits
◍ Purpose of convenience voting reforms.
Answer: Reduce cost of voting, increase turnout
◍ Margin of error in polls.
Answer: Range in which true public opinion likely falls
◍ Random/probability sampling.
Answer: Everyone has equal chance of selection
◍ Ideal survey sample size.
Answer: About 1,000 people for national accuracy
◍ Response bias.
Answer: People give inaccurate answers
◍ Non-response.
Answer: bias Certain groups don't participate in surveys
, ◍ Public vs. individual opinion.
Answer: Aggregate public views vs single person's view
◍ Priming.
Answer: Influencing what criteria people use to evaluate politics
◍ Framing.
Answer: How an issue is presented
◍ Zaller's RAS model.
Answer: Receive, Accept, Sample model of opinion formation
◍ Consistency of party vs other attitudes.
Answer: Party ID more stable than policy views
◍ Public opinion on gun control.
Answer: Majority support some regulation, divided on extent
◍ Definition of politics.
Answer: Process of making collective decisions using power
◍ Definition of ideology.
Answer: A coherent system of political beliefs
◍ Empirical political science.
Answer: What is (facts, data)
◍ Normative political science.
Answer: What should be (values, ethics)
◍ Preventing tyranny of the majority.
Answer: Checks and balances, rights, federalism
◍ Failure of Articles of Confederation.
Answer: Weak central government, no taxation/enforcement power
◍ Federalists.
Answer: Supported strong national government
◍ Anti-Federalists.
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026
FULL QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◍ Average turnout in presidential elections.
Answer: ~55-60% of voting-eligible population
◍ Voter turnout by education and income.
Answer: Higher education and income → higher turnout
◍ Paradox of voting.
Answer: Rationally one vote rarely matters, but people vote due to
duty/expressive benefits
◍ Purpose of convenience voting reforms.
Answer: Reduce cost of voting, increase turnout
◍ Margin of error in polls.
Answer: Range in which true public opinion likely falls
◍ Random/probability sampling.
Answer: Everyone has equal chance of selection
◍ Ideal survey sample size.
Answer: About 1,000 people for national accuracy
◍ Response bias.
Answer: People give inaccurate answers
◍ Non-response.
Answer: bias Certain groups don't participate in surveys
, ◍ Public vs. individual opinion.
Answer: Aggregate public views vs single person's view
◍ Priming.
Answer: Influencing what criteria people use to evaluate politics
◍ Framing.
Answer: How an issue is presented
◍ Zaller's RAS model.
Answer: Receive, Accept, Sample model of opinion formation
◍ Consistency of party vs other attitudes.
Answer: Party ID more stable than policy views
◍ Public opinion on gun control.
Answer: Majority support some regulation, divided on extent
◍ Definition of politics.
Answer: Process of making collective decisions using power
◍ Definition of ideology.
Answer: A coherent system of political beliefs
◍ Empirical political science.
Answer: What is (facts, data)
◍ Normative political science.
Answer: What should be (values, ethics)
◍ Preventing tyranny of the majority.
Answer: Checks and balances, rights, federalism
◍ Failure of Articles of Confederation.
Answer: Weak central government, no taxation/enforcement power
◍ Federalists.
Answer: Supported strong national government
◍ Anti-Federalists.
