Exam 21: Networks, Groups, Bureaucracies, and Societies

Much social life in a complex society involves belonging to secondary groups.

During World War II, German in-group boundaries included defining out-group membership as any person who had a Jewish grandparent. What effect did this have on German society?

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a bureaucracy and incorporate examples from the text and your own personal experiences.

Cooperative farming was the crystallization of agriculture's unique contribution to developing societies.

The Miramichi River Runners are a network of people who come together to participate in races, have an annual party, and give out awards to top competitors. What kind of group is this?

Long waits at the emergency department of a hospital, having to "take a number," and interacting with workers who seem more mired in routine than concerned about you, are examples of which characteristic of bureaucracy?

Weber's research preoccupation with bureaucracies focused on the behaviour of worker networks and triads.

On her first day at the company, Tara was introduced to the president, three vice-presidents, five directors, and 10 managers. The line of authority was clearly explained to her so that she would take any of her issues to a manager, who would report to a director, and so forth up the chain. According to the text, what kind of organizational structure was used by the company?

A young man growing up in a small town has a desire to be a jazz musician; however, he has no one to "jam" with. Yet he collects records, reads jazz history, and idolizes jazz innovator Miles Davis. What does this distant jazz community represent for this young man?

On average, according to the text, how many social ties does each Torontonian have?

What major global trend has overtaken business organizations over the past 40 years?

Which of the following explains the ability of humans to perpetrate atrocities against their own kind?

At a rave party, a 15-year-old was drugged and then raped repeatedly by a number of the partygoers. Some onlookers snapped pictures that they subsequently posted on Facebook, and others just ignored what was happening. When a witness to the affair was contacted by police, his statement was, "I didn't know her. I assumed she was a willing participant. Besides, no one else was calling 911." What is the term used to describe his reaction to the event?

A young woman tries to return a defective pair of earphones to a large chain store, only to be told that company policy prohibits returns of such products on hygienic grounds. What aspect of bureaucracy is captured in this example?

Discuss the two main factors that underlie bureaucratic inefficiency.

How do triads differ from dyads?

If your tribe leads a nomadic life, and you tend herds, moving them from highland to lowland pastures in tune with seasonal change, what kind of society are you living in?

Yvette is learning how to make field crops stronger and more resistant to disease. While some people protest this practice, Yvette is fascinated by the science behind the possibilities. What kind of a society is Yvette living in?

Societies do not help shape human action; human thinking alone shapes human action.

Sandra needs help getting a job. According to Mark Granovetter, who of the following is most likely to be able to offer assistance?