Deck 6: Social Groups, Organizations, and Social Institutions

Question 1

Membership in coercive organizations is largely involuntary.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

A bureaucracy is a formal organization designed to accomplish goals and tasks in an efficient and rational way.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Martha is wrong in expecting her choir group, with whom she interacts infrequently, to adhere to group norms when interacting with her.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Unlike members of an in-group, members of an out-group share a sense of identity and "we-ness."

Question 5

A dyad is the most cohesive of all groups.

Question 6

The type of communication followed in a bureaucracy is one of its strengths.

Question 7

Solomon Asch's research demonstrated the power of groups over individuals.

Question 8

Charles is a democratic leader. He is most likely to be viewed as controlling and bossy.

Question 9

A formal organization is a complex and structured primary group designed to achieve specific goals in an efficient manner.

Question 10

Which of the following statements defines a social group?

A) It refers to a complex and structured secondary group designed to achieve specific goals in an efficient manner.
B) It refers to two or more people who are allocated the same task.
C) It refers to a formal organization designed to accomplish goals and tasks in an efficient and rational way.
D) It refers to two or more people who share some attribute and interact with one another.
E) It refers to an organized and established social system that meets one or more of a society's basic needs.

Question 11

Rachel's friends from her biology class, with whom she interacts only in school, form her secondary group.

Question 12

An out-group can become a reference group.

Question 13

Secondary groups meet one's expressive needs.

Question 14

From a functionalist perspective, investing more in workers than equipment is a rational bureaucratic response to the rising costs of health care benefits and economic competition from other countries.

Question 15

A social network is a web of social ties that links individuals or groups to one another.

Question 16

Lilian, her siblings, and her cousins attend the same school. She has recently joined her school's literary club. Since then, Lilian discusses the books she reads with her two best friends whom she meets every day. Who among the following form Lilian's secondary group?

A) Her siblings
B) Her cousins
C) Her best friends
D) Her family
E) Her literary club members

Question 17

Communication between members of a primary group is emotional, personal, and satisfying.

Question 18

A primary group is a large group of people who interact with one another over a short period of time.

Question 19

The Stanford Prison Experiment underscores the influence of groups on behavior.

Question 20

In the context of social networks, Internet users are less likely to participate in groups than non-Internet users.

Question 21

_____ conducted the Stanford Prison Experiment to explain the influence of groups on behaviors.

A) Philip Zimbardo
B) Stanley Milgram
C) Solomon Asch
D) Irving Janis
E) Georg Simmel

Question 22

Erin, Macy, and Nancy are good friends. However, because of a misunderstanding, Erin and Nancy gang up and start finding faults with everything Macy does. This behavior is a typical example of the disadvantages of a(n) _____.

A) ascribed group
B) secondary group
C) dyad
D) out-group
E) triad

Question 23

Ryan joins a community service group for a month. The group, which consists of 10 people, visits various refugee camps and teaches underprivileged children. However, at the end of the month, Ryan neither goes to these refugee camps nor meets with any of the group members. In this case, Ryan's group is an example of a(n) _____.

A) triad
B) dyad
C) out-group
D) secondary group
E) primary group

Question 24

A(n) _____ is one who offers little or no guidance to group members and allows them to make their own decisions.

A) paternalistic leader
B) autocratic leader
C) authoritative leader
D) laissez-faire leader
E) democratic leader

Question 25

The purpose of Solomon Asch's experiment was to demonstrate the _____.

A) need to obey a superior's instructions when in a group
B) inability of some people in a group to conform to societal norms
C) effect of brainstorming among people in a group
D) power of groups over individuals
E) inability of groups to arrive at a consensus

Question 26

Unlike primary groups, reference groups:

A) provide face-to-face interaction over time.
B) rarely provide personal support.
C) have a strong impact on one's self-identity.
D) meet one's expressive needs.
E) are not easily replaced.

Question 27

Caitlin is a member of a Buddhist group that helps educate underprivileged children. Most of the members of the group have full-time jobs and volunteer to conduct classes for these children on weekends. This group is an example of a _____.

A) utilitarian organization
B) remunerative organization
C) coercive organization
D) virtual organization
E) normative organization

Question 28

In the context of group leadership, a(n) _____ gives orders, assigns tasks, and makes all major decisions.

A) authoritarian leader
B) democratic leader
C) permissive leader
D) transactional leader
E) laissez-faire leader

Question 29

According to Max Weber, which of the following characteristics should an efficient and productive bureaucracy possess?

A) Low degree of division of labor
B) Egalitarian distribution of authority
C) Rules that encourage creativity and innovation
D) Highly personal workplaces
E) Qualifications-based employment

Question 30

Which of the following groups refers to people who share a sense of identity and "we-ness" that typically excludes and devalues outsiders?

A) An out-group
B) An in-group
C) A heterogeneous group
D) An ascribed group
E) An ideal group

Question 31

Travis, a drug addict, was ordered by the court to attend a rehabilitation program. He found it demanding and difficult to comply with the rules of the rehabilitation center. He was made to follow a strict 12-step program that aimed at complete behavioral change. Travis's rehabilitation center is an example of a _____.

A) utilitarian organization
B) remunerative organization
C) coercive organization
D) voluntary organization
E) normative organization

Question 32

Which of the following is an ideal characteristic of the members of a primary group?

A) They are not easily replaced.
B) They usually have emotionally neutral conversations.
C) They usually have short-term relationships.
D) They are expected to adhere to rules.
E) They usually split up once a task or an activity is completed.

Question 33

Which of the following is an example of a distant social network?

A) One's immediate family members
B) One's friends in a class
C) Members of a street gang
D) One's girlfriend or boyfriend
E) LinkedIn subscribers

Question 34

Gary is the leader of a treasure hunt group. Instead of providing instructions to his group members, he allows each of them to interpret the clues of the game for themselves. As a result, there is little coordination among the group members and a lot of confusion. In this case, Gary is a(n) _____.

A) laissez-faire leader
B) transformational leader
C) democratic leader
D) paternalistic leader
E) authoritative leader

Question 35

Cassie is an active member of a vegan group. Though many students in her college believe veganism is much ado about nothing, Cassie and her friends actively protest against the consumption of meat. They widely publicize the benefits of being a vegan and consider all vegans to be healthier than others. For Cassie, her vegan group is a(n) _____.

A) in-group
B) primary group
C) dyad
D) ascribed group
E) out-group

Question 36

Sports teams, labor unions, and a company's employees are examples of _____.

A) primary groups
B) dyads
C) out-groups
D) secondary groups
E) triads

Question 37

Joshua has joined a cult whose members believe in cruel punishments for criminals. The rest of society considers them barbarians and detests their ruthless belief system. In this case, the rest of society views Joshua's cult as a(n) _____.

A) dyad
B) in-group
C) out-group
D) triad
E) secondary group

Question 38

Mia believes that group members should be given an equal opportunity to express their views during team meetings. She encourages each member of her team to offer his or her opinion and asks the other members to weigh the pros and cons of each opinion. Though she has the final say in the decision, she considers all her members' inputs before making a decision. Mia is a(n) _____.

A) democratic leader
B) authoritative leader
C) laissez-faire leader
D) autocratic leader
E) paternalistic leader

Question 39

A _____ refers to a group of people who shape one's behavior, values, and attitudes.

A) dyad
B) reference group
C) triad
D) primary group
E) secondary group

Question 40

Which of the following is true of formal organizations?

A) Social statuses and roles in formal organizations are organized around shared expectations.
B) Formal organizations use primary groups to achieve their organizational goals.
C) Businesses and societies using formal organization have similar goals and degrees of hierarchy.
D) Membership in formal organizations is always voluntary.
E) Formal organizations discourage the use of norms governing social relationships among members.

Question 41

Which of the following is a weakness of feminist theories?

A) They emphasize more on white and black women in professional and managerial positions.
B) They demean men even when they are not at fault.
C) They ignore macro-level factors that exploit workers and consumers.
D) They exaggerate cooperation and tend to gloss over dysfunctions such as worker dissatisfaction and alienation.
E) They undermine the importance of informal groups at the workplace.

Question 42

In the context of a glass escalator, men in female-dominated occupations:

A) work long hours but are paid less.
B) move up to supervisory positions more quickly than do females.
C) perform better than their colleagues.
D) have little scope of success than do men in male-dominated occupations.
E) use unethical methods to achieve success in a short period.

Question 43

_____ is a social institution that replaces a society's members through procreation.

A) The family
B) The law
C) Science
D) Religion
E) The economy

Question 44

Kriyoto Inc., a finance company, has strict rules and regulations. All employees are expected to conform to Kriyoto's norms irrespective of the changing business situations. The rigid rules discourage the creativity of employees and increase their job dissatisfaction. They feel isolated and powerless in their workplace. Which of the following disadvantages of a bureaucracy is exemplified in this scenario?

A) Communication problems
B) Alienation
C) Anticipatory socialization
D) Goal displacement
E) Groupthink

Question 45

Kenneth Hill Inc. claims to be an employee-centered company. It has created a management system in which supervisors will have a specific number of employees under them. Lately, however, this practice has led to favoritism. Managers have promoted only those employees who had similar interests as them. This has resulted in a huge disparity in the income and statuses of workers and has created a negative workplace environment. This type of organizational behavior is explained by _____.

A) functionalist theory
B) exchange theory
C) conflict theory
D) feminist theory
E) contingency theory

Question 46

Alicia believes that an employee's perception of a situation determines his or her relationship with other members. She also believes that employees can also influence the norms followed in their company. In this case, Alicia's views are similar to those of _____.

A) functionalists
B) conflict theorists
C) symbolic interactionists
D) exchange theorists
E) feminist theorists

Question 47

_____ is criticized for assuming that greater equality leads to a more successful and productive organization.

A) Feminist theory
B) Conflict theory
C) Symbolic interactionism
D) Functionalism
E) Utilitarianism

Question 48

In the context of the sociological perspectives on groups and organizations, _____ contend that organizations promote inequality that benefits elites, not workers.

A) utilitarians
B) functionalists
C) conflict theorists
D) feminists
E) symbolic interactionists

Question 49

Symbolic interaction ignores:

A) the role an individual's perception plays in shaping group dynamics.
B) the importance of interpersonal relationships among employees.
C) the fact that people's outcomes depend on how coworkers and bosses interpret the same behavior.
D) the macro-level factors that exploit workers and consumers.
E) the preference of individuals to make choices and mold their own identities instead of being manipulated.

Question 50

_____ focus on interpersonal relationships rather than examining groups and organizations on a macro level.

A) Rational choice theorists
B) Symbolic interactionists
C) Functionalists
D) Conflict theorists
E) Exchange theorists

Question 51

Bobby is a promising new employee. He picks up job skills effortlessly and puts in a lot of effort to increase his productivity and efficiency. According to functionalists, Bobby is most likely to perform better when he is _____.

A) monitored closely and made to follow a strict schedule
B) given the responsibility to complete a challenging project without assistance
C) allowed to supervise a batch of new recruits who need to be motivated to work
D) supervised by a manager who encourages him and trains him to perform better
E) given complete freedom to work at his own time and convenience

Question 52

Which of the following views was expressed by Frederick Winslow Taylor in his principles of scientific management?

A) Employees should be given a role in the decision-making process.
B) Workers should be made to work hard but also paid accordingly.
C) Employees work best in informal groups.
D) Female employees should be paid the same as male employees.
E) Workers were mere adjuncts to machines.

Question 53

_____ is a process in which managers across different divisions or departments ensure that their review processes are similar to each other regarding criteria and scoring.

A) Stack ranking
B) Forced ranking
C) McDonaldization
D) Calibration
E) Goal displacement

Question 54

Who among the following is most likely to be affected by a glass ceiling?

A) Men in managerial positions
B) Women who own and run their companies
C) Men who have newly joined a company
D) Women in clerical positions
E) Older people in top management positions

Question 55

According to functionalism, _____ is a primary factor in job satisfaction.

A) effective goal displacement
B) alienation
C) favoritism
D) dehumanization
E) effective leadership

Question 56

Which of the following is an advantage of bureaucracies?

A) They are efficient and predictable.
B) They have a strong reward system.
C) They have flexible and adaptable rules.
D) They give people a sense of belonging and oneness.
E) They eliminate communication problems.

Question 57

The _____ explains the tendency of a bureaucracy to become increasingly dominated by a small group of people.

A) goal displacement policy
B) conflict approach
C) iron law of oligarchy
D) Peter principle
E) carrot and stick approach

Question 58

Katrina, an experienced and resourceful employee, was not promoted as a manager in spite of being a well-deserving candidate for promotion. Her male counterparts, who were not as efficient as her, were promoted and given a pay raise. It appears that Katrina's only disadvantage was that she was a woman. This discrimination against Katrina is explained by the concept of _____.

A) a glass escalator
B) a glass cliff
C) a glass ceiling
D) double burden
E) motherhood penalty

Question 59

Functionalists believe that:

A) organizations perform best when employees follow a strict regime.
B) organizations are governed by a small, elite group of individuals.
C) groups and organizations are made up of interrelated and mutually dependent parts.
D) groups and organizations are most effective when leaders hold more power than workers.
E) organizations are most effective when wages are based on piecework.

Question 60

According to _____, organizations are made up of interrelated parts and rules and regulations that produce cooperation in meeting a common goal.

A) functionalists
B) conflict theorists
C) symbolic interactionists
D) feminists
E) rational choice theorists

Question 61

List the common characteristics of formal organizations.

Question 62

Briefly describe the views expressed in conflict theory.

Question 63

In a suburb in Miami, two minority groups are involved in constant conflict. The unrest leads to violent fights and, in extreme cases, murder. Which of the following institutions is responsible for controlling this situation?

A) The government
B) The family
C) The economy
D) Education
E) Religious institutions

Question 64

Daisy had to change four jobs in a year. In each of her roles, she was found to be incompetent and unfit and was fired within a few months. In this case, which of the following social institutions is most likely to have failed her?

A) Her family
B) Her education
C) Her religion
D) The government
E) The economy

Question 65

What role does K-12 play in addressing America's weight problems?

A) It mandates students' participation in health programs.
B) It provides students with scholarships if they maintain a healthy body mass index.
C) It holds an annual family event to help parents incorporate healthy eating habits in the family.
D) It offers students nutritious meals.
E) It encourages students to walk to school.

Question 66

In the context of social institutions, _____ is most likely to determine how a society produces, distributes, and consumes goods and services.

A) the family
B) religion
C) education
D) the mass media
E) the economy

Question 67

Explain how the rigid rules of bureaucracies can lead to goal displacement.

Question 68

List any four shortcomings of bureaucracies.

Question 69

Explain the impact of a primary group on an individual's life.

Question 70

Cecilia was obese when she started kindergarten. Which of the following social institutions majorly influenced her health and eating habits?

A) Religion
B) Education
C) The economy
D) The family
E) The government

Question 71

Differentiate between an in-group and an out-group.

Question 72

What was the conclusion of Philip Zimbardo's experiment?

Question 73

Briefly explain the communication problems encountered in bureaucracies.

Question 74

Jamie strongly believes that people should not consume any type of non-vegetarian food. The people of his community consider animals to be sacred. In this scenario, which of the following social institutions is most likely responsible for shaping Jamie's belief?

A) The government
B) Marriage
C) Law
D) Religion
E) The economy

Question 75

What is a utilitarian organization?

Question 76

The absence of laws that prohibit school vending machines from serving sugary snacks and drinks is a flaw in the _____.

A) family system
B) educational system
C) economy
D) government
E) health-research system

Question 77

Describe the three types of leaders as identified by classic studies.

Question 78

According to functionalists, _____ is a major social institution.

A) marriage
B) economic status
C) education
D) ethnicity
E) health care

Question 79

What is a reference group?

Question 80

Describe Stanley Milgram's experiment, and explain why it was criticized.