Deck 5: Groups and Organizations

Question 1

The chapter-opening story of the McDonald's organization explains

A) that the principles guiding McDonald's now dominate much of our social life.
B) why so many small businesses fail.
C) that the McDonald's idea never caught on outside of the United States.
D) that "fast food" is really pretty slow.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Why did Charles Horton Cooley refer to some groups as "primary groups"?

A) They are among the first groups we experience and have primary importance for our lives.
B) They exist to accomplish some specific goal.
C) Only a small number of people ever join a primary group.
D) They are larger than secondary groups.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following statements is consistent with the research findings of Solomon Asch?

A) Many people are willing to compromise their
B) Many people pick friends who will agree with them.
C) Ordinary people often lie to people in own judgment to avoid being seen as different. power.
D) All of the above are correct.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of secondary groups?

A) short-term duration
B) members pursue some specific goal or activity
C) large size
D) warm, personal interaction

Question 5

What is the term for group leadership that emphasizes the completion of tasks?

A) expressive leadership
B) instrumental leadership
C) democratic leadership
D) secondary leadership

Question 6

What is the correct sociological concept for all people with a common status, such as "college students"?

A) a crowd
B) a category
C) a group
D) a population

Question 7

Which of the following is every society's most important primary group?

A) the peer group
B) the work group
C) the play group
D) the family

Question 8

A secondary group is a social group that

A) is generally much smaller than a primary group.
B) engages in activities members find relatively unimportant.
C) is impersonal and exists in order to accomplish some specific goal.
D) we experience later in life.

Question 9

Which of the following is the best example of a secondary group?

A) a family sharing a meal with their neighbors
B) a local group of girl scouts at a camp site
C) a fraternity chapter meeting
D) a General Motors Corporate awards banquet

Question 10

Imagine you are watching several dozen passengers in an airport gate area waiting to board a plane. These people are an example of a

A) group.
B) crowd.
C) population.
D) category.

Question 11

The assembled students at a college graduation ceremony are a

A) peer group.
B) crowd.
C) primary group.
D) secondary group.

Question 12

A_____ refers to a temporary, loosely formed collection of people who may or may not interact.

A) population
B) category
C) group
D) crowd

Question 13

Which of the following is the best example of a primary group?

A) carpenters gathering at a work site
B) a family gathering for a religious holiday
C) a reunion of the graduating class of 1977
D) a student government meeting

Question 14

As bureaucracy and computer technology have spread throughout U.S. society, privacy

A) has not changed at all.
B) is greater than ever.
C) has no legal protection at all.
D) is threatened as never before.

Question 15

What do sociologists call two or more people who identify with and interact with one another?

A) a crowd
B) a micro-system
C) a social group
D) a dyad

Question 16

In principle, bureaucratic organizations pay little attention to

A) formal policies.
B) completing tasks effectively.
C) tradition.
D) the technical competence of members.

Question 17

During the last 50 years, Japanese formal organizations have differed from those in the United States by being

A) more collective in their orientation.
B) less profitable.
C) less efficient.
D) more hierarchical.

Question 18

What leadership traits have been described as a "female advantage"?

A) more flexible leadership
B) more willingness to ask questions
C) more emphasis on communication
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 19

Charles Horton Cooley referred to a small social group whose members share personal and enduring relationships as a[n]

A) secondary group.
B) expressive group.
C) instrumental group.
D) primary group.

Question 20

Which of the following is every society's most important primary group?

A) play group
B) family
C) work group
D) peer group

Question 21

Samuel Stouffer's study of soldier morale during World War II led to what conclusion?

A) Soldiers are willing to do just about anything in order to get ahead.
B) Whatever people's situation in absolute terms, their sense of well-being comes from looking at themselves in relation to a specific reference group.
C) Happiness is a matter of a personal values and standards.
D) The greater the chances of getting ahead, the happier people are.

Question 22

Jordan is a leader who tends to downplay her position and power, allowing the group to function more or less on its own. Which type of leader is she?

A) democratic
B) authoritarian
C) bureaucratic
D) laissez-faire

Question 23

Solomon Asch's research, in which subjects were asked to match lines, showed

A) that people seek out friends with whom they tend to agree.
B) the power of group membership to generate conformity.
C) that people tend to see most things differently.
D) that people defined as "leaders" have great power over their subjects.

Question 24

In general, we see a ____ as a means to an end; we see a____ as an end in itself.

A) secondary group; primary group
B) primary group; secondary group
C) category; crowd
D) crowd; category

Question 25

What is the sociological term coined by Irving Janis for a narrow understanding of some issue caused by group conformity?

A) reference group consciousness
B) bureaucratic ritualism
C) groupthink
D) tunnel vision

Question 26

In your group the leader is skillful at using humor to reduce tension and to lighten serious moments. Which type of leader does your group have?

A) secondary leader
B) democratic leader
C) instrumental leader
D) expressive leader

Question 27

Which type of group leader supports collective decision making on an egalitarian basis?

A) democratic
B) authoritarian
C) bureaucratic
D) laissez-faire

Question 28

Which leadership style takes charge of making decisions and makes sure people do what they are told?

A) laissez-faire
B) bureaucratic
C) authoritarian
D) democratic

Question 29

Jake is a member of the Bulldogs soccer team. His team's main rival is the Tigers. Members of the Bulldogs put down the Tigers all the time. To Jake, the Tigers represent

A) an out-group.
B) an in-group.
C) a reference group.
D) a network.

Question 30

Which concept refers to group leadership that emphasizes collective well-being?

A) democratic leadership
B) expressive leadership
C) secondary leadership
D) instrumental leadership

Question 31

Stanley Milgram's research, in which subjects used a "shock generator," showed that

A) people become angry towards those who disagree with them.
B) the ability to tolerate pain varies with cultural background.
C) people are surprisingly likely to follow the orders of not only legitimate authority figures, but also ordinary individuals.
D) the conclusions of Solomon Asch's research were incorrect.

Question 32

Which of the following concepts refers to a social group that people use as a point of reference in making evaluations or decisions?

A) reference group
B) peer group
C) cohort
D) out-group

Question 33

Here are four statements describing group dynamics. Which of them does NOT correctly describe groupthink?

A) Once group members agree on a position, they oppose other possibilities.
B) Group members develop a distinctive way of seeing the issue, which discourages anyone from taking a different position.
C) Groups larger than three members rarely are able to reach consensus.
D) As group members seek consensus, they dismiss too many options.

Question 34

Which type of social group commands a member's esteem and loyalty?

A) a social network
B) a reference group
C) an out-group
D) an in-group

Question 35

What is the term for group leadership that emphasizes the completion of tasks?

A) secondary leadership
B) democratic leadership
C) instrumental leadership
D) expressive leadership

Question 36

You are part of a task force with a group leader who has a distant relationship with group members and who is concerned with getting the job done. Which type of leader does your task force have?

A) instrumental leadership
B) expressive leadership
C) secondary leadership
D) democratic leadership

Question 37

Which of the following concepts refers to a social group with two members?

A) bond
B) pair
C) dyad
D) triad

Question 38

Which of the following statements is consistent with the findings of Solomon Asch?

A) Many people are willing to compromise their own judgment to avoid being seen as different.
B) Many people pick friends who tend to agree with them.
C) Ordinary people often lie to people in power.
D) Most people struggle to make everyday decisions.

Question 39

Which of the following illustrates the operation of "groupthink"?

A) A group leader makes a decision without consulting anyone, and the decision turns out to be a bad one.
B) A group gathers lots of information and makes a good policy recommendation.
C) A group seeks opinion differences and is unable to come up with any policy recommendation at all.
D) A group seeks consensus and discourages members from speaking freely, resulting in the group making a poor decision.

Question 40

Which statement correctly reflects Simmel's understanding of the dyad?

A) Typically, dyads involve less intense interaction.
B) Dyads are less stable than groups with more members.
C) Typically, dyads have little potential for meaningful social bonds.
D) Dyads are the most stable of all social groups.

Question 41

Max Weber noted many traits of bureaucracy. Which of the following list is NOT one of them?

A) favoring kin over strangers
B) arranging offices in a hierarchy
C) enacting many rules and regulations
D) providing workers with highly specialized jobs

Question 42

The emergency room clerk who keeps a bleeding patient waiting while filling out extensive paperwork is a classic example of

A) bureaucratic inertia.
B) bureaucratic alienation.
C) bureaucratic innovation.
D) bureaucratic ritualism.

Question 43

In general, which of the following categories of people are "well connected" in terms of social networks?

A) young people
B) well-educated people
C) people living in cities
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 44

Which of the following concepts refers to the weak social ties among people who have little common identity and little interaction?

A) network
B) dyad
C) primary group
D) triad

Question 45

Which type of formal organization is sometimes called a "voluntary association"?

A) coercive organization
B) normative organization
C) any bureaucratic organization
D) utilitarian organization

Question 46

Which of these concepts refers to the rule of the many by the few?

A) Bureaucracy
B) Formal organization
C) Oligarchy
D) Democracy

Question 47

____ refers to factors outside the organization that affect its operation.

A) Organizational environment
B) Oligarchy
C) Competition
D) Secondary arena

Question 48

To Weber, the rise of bureaucratic organizations is an expression of

A) science.
B) capitalism.
C) tradition.
D) rationality.

Question 49

The concept "triad" refers to which of the following?

A) Simmel's term for a trial marriage
B) any pyramid-shaped organization
C) a temporary social group
D) a social group with three members

Question 50

What is Robert Merton's term for focusing so much on rules and regulations that the organization cannot accomplish its goals?

A) bureaucratic inertia
B) bureaucratic innovation
C) bureaucratic alienation
D) bureaucratic ritualism

Question 51

Read the following four statements about social diversity and group dynamics. Which statement is NOT correct?

A) Heterogeneous groups turn outward.
B) Large groups turn outward.
C) Physical boundaries encourage social boundaries.
D) Social equality promotes contact.

Question 52

If you were a prisoner, a maximum-security prison would be which of the following types of organizations from your point of view?

A) a coercive organization
B) a normative organization
C) a voluntary association
D) an utilitarian organization

Question 53

The tendency of bureaucratic organizations to perpetuate themselves-that is, to keep themselves going-is called

A) bureaucratic inertia.
B) bureaucratic innovation.
C) bureaucratic ritualism.
D) bureaucratic oligarchy.

Question 54

Chapter 5's "Seeing Sociology in the News" article explains how certain comments that one professor posted on Facebook led to

A) a new career, showing the Internet's potential to expand our networks.
B) her suspension from her job, reminding us all that employers can read these

Question 55

From the point of view of parents, what type of formal organization is a school's Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)?

A) a coercive organization
B) a normative organization
C) a traditional organization
D) a utilitarian organization

Question 56

Formal organizations are

A) large secondary groups organized to achieve goals efficiently.
B) small groups with elected leaders.
C) government agencies with multiple goals.
D) networks that have clear social boundaries.

Question 57

The concept "bureaucracy" refers to

A) any source of inefficiency in organizational operation.
B) a large normative organization.
C) an organizational model rationally designed to perform tasks efficiently.
D) an organizational model that operates informally.

Question 58

Which type of formal organization do people typically join in order to make money and obtain other material resources?

A) a coercive organization
B) a normative organization
C) a traditional organization
D) a utilitarian organization

Question 59

Which of the following is typically TRUE of a social network?

A) Networks have clear boundaries defining membership.
B) Networks foster a strong sense of membership.
C) Networks are "fuzzy" groups containing people we "know of" rather than those we "know."
D) Networks are built on primary relationships.

Question 60

Max Weber argued that formal organizations were effective, but he cautioned that they can have harmful effects on people. What is the danger?

A) organizations create social inequality
B) organizations create alienation
C) organizations create conflict among workers
D) organizations create conformity

Question 61

Today's business organizations in the United States differ from those a century ago in a number of ways. Which of the following is NOT a way in which today's U.S. business organizations differ from those a century ago?

A) Today's organizations provide more creative autonomy.
B) Today's organizations make greater use of competitive work teams.
C) Today's organizations have a steeper pyramid shape.
D) Today's organizations have more flexibility in their operation.

Question 62

In his "iron law of oligarchy," Robert Michels stated that bureaucracy always means

A) inefficiency.
B) the few rule the many.
C) formal rules and regulations.
D) a focus on money.

Question 63

Members of a category usually think of themselves as a special "we."

Question 64

What leadership traits have been described as making up a "female advantage"?

A) a greater information focus
B) placing greater emphasis on communication
C) more flexible leadership
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 65

Looking at the list below, all but one of the traits is correctly linked to McDonaldization. Which is NOT one of the principles of McDonaldization?

A) creativity
B) mass produced uniformity
C) efficiency
D) control through automation

Question 66

The term "McDonaldization of society" refers to

A) the less and less predictable nature of today's society.
B) society becoming more filled with inefficient "red tape."
C) the spread of McDonald's restaurants to nations around the world.
D) McDonald's organizational principles coming to dominate much of society.

Question 67

The text describes "opposing trends" in today's world of formal organizations because

A) some organizations are getting bigger, but most are getting smaller.
B) men dominate large formal organizations, while women dominate small formal organizations.
C) although some organizations have evolved toward flatter, more flexible forms, many others remain rigid following the example of McDonald's.
D) organizations are getting bigger, but fewer people are working in formal organizations.

Question 68

In general, U.S. and Japanese formal organizations have differed in that

A) U.S. companies have leaders who engage in more collective decision making.
B) Japanese companies have a more collective culture; U.S. companies have a more individualistic culture.
C) Japanese companies make more money.
D) U.S. companies are more efficient.

Question 69

Scientific management, an organizational model, was devised by

A) Rosabeth Moss Kanter.
B) William Ouchi.
C) Max Weber.
D) Frederick Winslow Taylor.

Question 70

In brief, what does Rosabeth Moss Kanter's research about U.S. organizations show?

A) Employees who "hustle" are the ones who get ahead.
B) Organizations must "open up" their structure to bring out the best in their employees.
C) Formal organizations almost always become oligarchies.
D) Organizational structure makes little difference in terms of employee performance.

Question 71

The boundary that distinguishes members from nonmembers is clearer in primary groups than in secondary groups.

Question 72

The basic idea behind scientific management is that

A) management can use scientific principles to make a business more productive.
B) truly rational organizations must ignore the personal needs of workers.
C) both science and formal organizations are rational.
D) organizations benefit from employees having scientific knowledge.

Question 73

As bureaucracy and computer technology have spread throughout U.S. society, privacy

A) has no legal protection at all.
B) is threatened as never before.
C) has not changed at all.
D) is greater than ever.

Question 74

Instrumental leadership emphasizes the completion of tasks.

Question 75

Generally, people in primary relationships think of the others as a means to some end.

Question 76

The sociologist who described the primary group was Charles Horton Cooley.

Question 77

People riding together on a subway are correctly called a crowd.

Question 78

Instrumental leaders are more likely than expressive leaders to enjoy more personal affection from group members.

Question 79

Which of the following is evidence of the "McDonaldization of society"?

A) the spread of the local foods movement
B) superstores replacing bank tellers with automatic teller machines (ATMs)
C) the increasing share of our population attending college
D) people shopping in carefully designed, climate controlled malls

Question 80

Read the following list of traits. Which trait is NOT included in William Ouchi's description of formal organizations in Japan during the 1980s?

A) quick business decisions by leaders working on their own
B) involvement in the personal as well as the working lives of employees
C) providing lifetime security to employees
D) training employees in the overall operation of an organization