One Recent Survey Showed That Two-Thirds of Americans Believe the Government

question 15

Multiple Choice

One recent survey showed that two-thirds of Americans believe the government is spending "too little" money on "assistance for the poor." Yet,another survey conducted at the same time found that only one-tenth of Americans believe that the government is spending "too little" on "welfare." This example shows that:

• A) selection bias must always be considered when interpreting the results from a poll
• B) small differences in the wording of a question can lead to very different response patterns
• C) the findings from some polling agencies should not be trusted
• D) polling can never be used to understand public opinion on any issue
• E) the results from push polls are often inconsistent

---

Definitions:

Abraham Maslow

An American psychologist best known for creating Maslow's hierarchy of needs, a theory of psychological health predicated on fulfilling innate human needs in priority, leading to self-actualization.

Affiliation Motive

The innate desire to form and maintain social bonds and interpersonal connections.

Implicit Motivation

Refers to motivation that is unconscious, driving behavior without the individual being consciously aware of the motivating factors.

Approach Motivation

The drive to move towards, seek out, or achieve positive outcomes.