Deck 2: Studying the Family

Question 1

A set of statements that explains why a particular phenomenon occurs is called a(n)________.

A) observation
B) role
C) function
D) theory

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Jeffrey, a researcher, is conducting a drug trial in a controlled environment.He manipulates several variables and measures the effect of each variable on the subjects of the trial.In this scenario, Jeffrey is using the ________.

A) experiment method
B) field research method
C) nonparticipant observation method
D) secondary analysis method

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Why are theories and research on marriage and family important in our everyday lives?

A) They give people complete answers to raise healthy, successful families.
B) They use case studies of families that are a lot worse off than our own.
C) They improve people's ability to make informed decisions in their own families.
D) They rely primarily on age-old information instead of latest empirical studies.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

According to the conflict theorists, ________.

A) there is continuous tension between the haves and have-nots
B) conflict among people should be best avoided
C) a society is a stable and cooperative system
D) families help eliminate the systems of social stratification

Question 5

Student course evaluations are an example of ________.

A) face-to-face interviews
B) secondary analysis
C) participant observation
D) self-administered questionnaires

Question 6

Which of the following is true of content analysis?

A) It can be labor intensive.
B) It does not permit comparisons over time.
C) It can be applied solely to oral communication.
D) It is an obtrusive approach.

Question 7

According to structural-functionalism, family roles are functional because they create and preserve ________.

A) social change
B) individualism
C) flexibility and adaptability
D) order and stability

Question 8

Which of the following is true of self-help books and articles?

A) They make people feel better about themselves.
B) They support non-traditional gender roles.
C) They oversimplify complex problems.
D) They rely solely on empirical evidence.

Question 9

Marriages primarily symbolize the formation of a legal union.As a secondary function, they provide a hands-off message to past lovers.The secondary function is referred to as a(n)________.

A) manifest function
B) latent function
C) expressive function
D) instrumental function

Question 10

The ________ involves providing the emotional support and nurturing that sustains the family unit.

A) instrumental role
B) expressive role
C) latent role
D) breadwinner's role

Question 11

Examination of data that have been collected by someone else is known as ________.

A) focus group study
B) secondary analysis
C) survey research
D) non-participant observation

Question 12

Which of the following is true of latent functions?

A) They are clearly recognized.
B) They are publicized.
C) They are evident.
D) They are unintended.

Question 13

Which theory focuses on how the parts of a society work together in ensuring the survival of the whole?

A) the structural functional perspective
B) the conflict perspective
C) the social exchange perspective
D) the symbolic interaction perspective

Question 14

Jim and Ryan work as researchers at Palmer Corp., a retail firm.Currently, they are discussing whether they should use field observation to assess the public image of a newly launched product.Jim states that field observation would be the best method to assess the market.However, Ryan disagrees.Which of the following statements, if true, is likely to support Ryan's argument?

A) Researchers at Palmer Corp.have found that field research is a more flexible method than other research methods.
B) Most researchers at Palmer Corp.are trained and qualified to conduct field observation across different market segments efficiently.
C) In the past, Jim has gathered reliable and accurate market data with the use of field observation.
D) Studies have shown that field research disrupts the natural setting because the researcher's presence influences the people being studied.

Question 15

Harry and Ben work as researchers at ASN Corporation.While conducting a study, Harry proposes that secondary research should be used to gather data for the study.He believes that secondary research provides fairly accurate information.However, Ben is against the idea and believes that secondary research is not a reliable method.Give reasons to support Ben's argument.

Question 16

Lin, who works at a youth information center, is conducting a social intervention to prevent the negative outcomes of teenage pregnancy.Once the social intervention is complete, she will assess whether the intervention generated the expected results by conducting surveys.In such a scenario, Lin is using the ________.

A) experiment method
B) evaluation research method
C) nonparticipant observation method
D) secondary analysis method

Question 17

Lily, a wife and a mother of two children, plays the role of a homemaker.Her day-to-day work involves doing household chores, preparing meals for her family, and keeping the house clean.According to the structural functional theory, Lily is performing a(n)________ role.

A) primary
B) instrumental
C) expressive
D) implied

Question 18

According to the structural-functional theory, the expressive role is best carried out by the ________.

A) wife
B) husband
C) children
D) grandparents

Question 19

According to the structural-functional theory, the instrumental role in a family is best carried out by the ________.

A) marriage therapist
B) parents of the couple
C) wife
D) husband

Question 20

According to the American Sociological Association, researchers must get a participant's ________ consent.

A) informed
B) confidential
C) hidden
D) "do no harm"

Question 21

The ________ comprises the most immediate settings such as the family.

A) microsystem
B) macrosystem
C) exosystem
D) mesosystem

Question 22

The "haves" according to the conflict theory are ________.

A) women
B) middle-aged men
C) children
D) minorities

Question 23

The interconnected behaviors, roles, and relationships that influence a person's daily life are called the ________.

A) exosystem
B) mesosystem
C) macrosystem
D) microsystem

Question 24

Structural-functionalism has been criticized for being ________.

A) liberal
B) radical
C) focused on social change
D) conservative

Question 25

Sean, a sociologist, argues that ecological theories are useful in understanding the dynamics of nontraditional families.However, Paul, his colleague, disagrees and states that such theories are useful only in assessing traditional families.Which of the following statements, if true, is likely to support Paul's argument?

A) Ecological theories fail to explain family dynamics of traditional families.
B) Research has indicated that conflict theories are more effective than ecological theories in studying families.
C) Ecological theories often indicate how nuclear families evolve into nontraditional families.
D) Most ecological theories fail to incorporate gay and lesbian households.

Question 26

For children, their parent's employment is part of the ________.

A) microsystem
B) macrosystem
C) exosystem
D) mesosystem

Question 27

A criticism of the conflict theory is that it overemphasizes conflict and coercion at the expense of ________.

A) changes in traditional roles
B) competition, power, and control
C) order and stability
D) male dominance

Question 28

Which of the following statements concerning developmental tasks in a family life cycle is true?

A) They tend to be similar for all types of families.
B) They are one-dimensional in nature.
C) They are not constant and change over time.
D) They are limited to fulfilling roles within the family.

Question 29

Margaret believes that the structural-functional theory holds a narrow and diminished scope.She states that it does not take into account the different ethnic backgrounds of families while studying them.Which of the following, if true, is likely to support her claim?

A) The structural-functional theory views families through white, male, middle-class lens.
B) The structural-functional theory overemphasizes the importance of social change.
C) The structural-functional theory ignores the need for social order and stability in society.
D) The structural-functional theory states that disagreements are a normal part of family life.

Question 30

Clarice Thompson, an academician and scholar, believes that all individuals, irrespective of gender, have equal social, economic, and political rights in a society.Clarice is most likely to be a ________.

A) conflict theorist
B) symbolic interactionist
C) social exchange theorist
D) feminist

Question 31

Which theory examines the ways in which groups disagree, struggle for power, and compete for scarce resources?

A) the structural functional theory
B) the social exchange theory
C) the conflict theory
D) the symbolic interaction theory

Question 32

Jose and Carlos are sociology students.They are discussing family development theories.Jose believes that family development studies are conducted only at the micro-level.However, Carlos argues that these theories include macro-level studies, as well.Which of the following statements, if true, is likely to weaken Jose's claim?

A) Family development studies examine family patterns across cultures and history.
B) Most family development studies focus solely on examining nuclear families.
C) Modern family development theories are descriptive rather than explanatory.
D) The family life cycle stages proposed by the family development theory are representative of real-life families.

Question 33

The ________ proposes that the struggle for power and competition for wealth is desirable because it improves people's lives.

A) structural-functional theory
B) family systems theory
C) symbolic interaction theory
D) conflict theory

Question 34

In her family, Jessica is expected to perform tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and feeding the children.Despite being a qualified statistician, she accepts her duty as a homemaker because women in the society are considered suitable primarily for the role of a homemaker.This process of assigning specific work to family members, usually women, is known as ________.

A) kin-work
B) kin-scription
C) kin-time
D) filiation

Question 35

The ________ consists of the settings or events which people do not experience directly, but which can affect their development.

A) microsystem
B) exosystem
C) macrosystem
D) mesosystem

Question 36

George, a sociologist and a critic of the feminist theory, is of the opinion that feminist theorists do not use a balanced approach and that such theories are usually biased toward women's issues.Which of the following is an accurate statement that strengthens George's view?

A) Feminist theories often concentrate on men and their attitudes toward women.
B) Feminist theories assume that most homemakers voluntarily choose to perform this role over others.
C) Feminist theories are often based on case studies of African-American or Asian men and women.
D) Feminist theories fail to concentrate on other forms of oppression such as disability and religious tolerance.

Question 37

Which of the following did the conflict theory advocate?

A) Societies are stable and cooperative systems.
B) Difficulties in families are a result of individual shortcomings.
C) The process of conflict changing traditional roles is natural.
D) Conflict promotes structures and values that are more oppressive.

Question 38

Anthony, a sociologist, believes that feminist theories that focus on diversity are generally flawed.Which of the following statements is an accurate statement that strengthens his view?

A) Feminists overlook commonalities in families that make them more similar than different.
B) Feminists advocate that women should be given more rights and privileges than men.
C) Feminists that focus on diversity often include various forms of oppression such as those based on age and disability.
D) Feminists focus on wage inequality but ignore personal issues.

Question 39

Johanna, a feminist, believes that modern day feminist theories have lost their bearings and have deviated from their original purpose.She finds that they no longer emphasize larger, more important issues.Which of the following statements, if true, is likely to weaken her view?

A) A majority of feminist theorists today have shifted focus from personal issues to social issues.
B) Most feminist theories today fail to include issues such as minimum wage for women.
C) Feminist theories are often written by theorists who emphasize the importance of gender equality.
D) Modern feminist theories emphasize different forms of oppression such as age, disability, and religious intolerance.

Question 40

Which of the following is a criticism of structural-functionalism?

A) It focuses excessively on how families interact on a daily basis.
B) It does not study families on a macro-level.
C) It tends to emphasize order and stability and ignore social change.
D) It emphasizes the structure of nontraditional families instead of traditional families.

Question 41

Which of the following is true of a probability sample?

A) Researchers use the criteria of convenience and the availability of participants to conduct the study.
B) Each person has an equal chance of being chosen for the study.
C) The selection of the sample is carefully planned and not random.
D) The findings cannot be generalized to the population from which the sample is drawn.

Question 42

Jane and Leanne work as researchers at ABN Foundation and have been assigned a new assignment on families.For the assignment, they will need to study families in which conflict and misbehavior occur regularly.Jane and Leanne are currently discussing whether they should use the family systems theory to conduct the research.Which of the following statements, if true, is likely to strengthen the case for using this theory?

A) Researchers at ABN Foundation often refer to the symbolic interaction theory when studying families.
B) Critics point out that the theory focuses more on dysfunctional families and less on healthy families.
C) Research indicates that the family systems theory provides limited insight into how a family functions.
D) The family systems theory focuses on individual family members but not on how the members interact within the family system.

Question 43

Which of the following is a difference between content analysis and surveys?

A) Surveys can be applied to any form of communication whereas content analysis cannot be applied.
B) Content analysis is obtrusive whereas surveys are not.
C) Content analysis allows researchers to correct errors whereas surveys do not.
D) Surveys allow researchers to gather specific data over time whereas content analysis does not.

Question 44

Which of the following methods do researchers use to systematically collect data from respondents through questionnaires or interviews?

A) experiment method
B) survey method
C) participant observation
D) secondary research

Question 45

A micro-level theory that examines the everyday behavior of individuals is known as the ________.

A) structural functional theory
B) conflict theory
C) family development theory
D) symbolic interaction theory

Question 46

Which of the following is a similarity between evaluation research and clinical research?

A) They are limited to qualitative approaches.
B) Both methods are applied.
C) They lack the ability to address real-life problems.
D) Both of them involve specific methods and do not rely on standard data-collection methods.

Question 47

In order to interact effectively, symbols must ________.

A) have more than one meaning
B) have agreed-upon definitions
C) have alternative explanations
D) be limited to words and pictures

Question 48

While conducting a study on the Amazonian tribes, Susan selects a group of ten people from each tribe and studies their daily routines and habits.These small groups are referred to as the ________.

A) population
B) variable
C) sample
D) paradata

Question 49

Which of the following is a difference between experiments and field research?

A) Experimental designs invariably involve higher costs than field research.
B) The results of experimental studies can be generalized to a larger population whereas the results of field research cannot.
C) Experiments involve artificial situations whereas field research does not.
D) Experiments are, in most cases, more time consuming than field research.

Question 50

According to the symbolic interaction theory, an eight-year-old girl would consider her parents as ________.

A) significant others
B) superegos
C) symbols
D) ids

Question 51

Paul conducts a survey in order to collect and examine data relating to families.The data includes family size and the ethnicity of family members.Paul is conducting a(n)________.

A) qualitative research
B) interpretive research
C) secondary research
D) quantitative research

Question 52

Which of the following is an example of secondary data?

A) documenting interactions between couples
B) diaries
C) observing the behavior of children
D) group interviews

Question 53

Jim, a researcher, is gathering information about family income and monetary costs of living in New York.He e-mails questionnaires to a random sample of 1,000 respondents to collect the data.As it's a large sample, Jim expects to gather unbiased estimates from the sample.However, to his surprise, he receives a response from only 50 people.Which of the following, if true, is most likely to be the reason for the low response?

A) The respondents found the questionnaire intrusive because it asked for sensitive data.
B) Jim e-mailed the questionnaires to a diverse group of people from different social, economic, and cultural backgrounds.
C) Research indicates that people tend to provide inaccurate answers when responding to questionnaires.
D) Face-to-face communication usually has low response rates.

Question 54

An advantage of using field research is that ________.

A) it is an inexpensive process compared to other data collection methods
B) it is free from the researcher's personal biases
C) people being studied are rarely influenced by the researcher's presence
D) the observation is always objective and impersonal

Question 55

The social exchange theory has been criticized for overemphasizing ________.

A) symbols
B) social roles
C) rational behavior
D) diversity

Question 56

According to the social exchange perspective, when does a marriage end in a separation or divorce?

A) when the children of the couple grow up and leave home
B) when the husband and wife no longer earn the same income
C) when the husband and wife no longer perceive marriage the same way
D) when the costs of the marriage outweigh the rewards

Question 57

Robert is a husband, a grandfather, a brother, a son, and an uncle.These are examples of Robert's ________.

A) roles
B) achieved status
C) symbols
D) shared meanings

Question 58

Which theory states that social interaction between people is based on the efforts of each person to maximize rewards and minimize costs?

A) the symbolic interaction theory
B) the structural functional theory
C) the social exchange theory
D) the feminist theory

Question 59

Critics of the symbolic interaction theory state that interactionists overlook the irrational and unconscious aspects of behavior.Which of the following statements, if true, is likely to weaken this criticism?

A) Interactionists have an overly optimistic and unrealistic view of people's everyday choices.
B) Research indicates that people mostly behave reflectively and contemplate things before taking action.
C) Studies show that people act impulsively and rarely fear the consequences of hasty actions.
D) Interactionists focus only on macro factors when examining individuals' behavior.

Question 60

In a ________, there is little or no attempt to get a representative cross-section of a population and people don't have an equal chance of being selected for the study.

A) random sample
B) probability sample
C) nonprobability sample
D) stratified sample

Question 61

What are some of the benefits of using surveys as a data collection method?

Question 62

Child psychologists often have one-way mirrors in the clinic to assess the behavior of children.Explain the type of data collection method used by these psychologists.

Question 63

Antonio, a professor at a university, is conducting a laboratory experiment on the effects of smoking and alcohol on students.Assess some of the challenges that Antonio may face in dealing with student volunteers or paid respondents for the research.

Question 64

List the five serious problems that self-help books and articles can create.

Question 65

Chang is conducting research on homeless children in Indonesia.Though he has collected extensive data during the course of the research, the research is affected by his personal biases.Assess why it is difficult for Chang to remain objective while gathering data.

Question 66

What are some of the challenges researchers have faced in gathering data when they study teenage sexual behavior?

Question 67

Content analysis is a data-collection method that systematically examines some form of communication.With the help of an example, explain why this method is likely to be less expensive than field research.

Question 68

What are the three golden rules that all ethical standards have regardless of the discipline or research methods used?

Question 69

What are some of the limitations of using clinical research as a data collection method?

Question 70

Explain whether secondary data is longitudinal or cross-sectional.