Deck 6: Social Groups, Organizations, And Social Institutions

Question 1

Which of the following statements is not true?

A) Primary groups have a powerful influence on our social identity.
B) Primary groups contribute to our personal development.
C) Primary groups are long-lasting.
D) Primary groups form our support system.
E) Primary groups are highly structured.

Answer 1

E

Question 2

The Democratic Party,the National Rifle Association and the Teamsters Union are examples of

A) reference groups.
B) primary groups.
C) secondary groups.
D) in-groups.
E) out-groups.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

_____ are those people who are viewed and treated negatively because they are seen as being different.

A) In-groups
B) Out-groups
C) Primary groups
D) Secondary groups
E) Reference groups

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Social groups consist of _____ or more people.

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5

Question 5

_____ groups meet our expressive (or emotional)needs; _____ groups meet our instrumental (or task-oriented)needs.

A) In; out
B) Out; in
C) Secondary; primary
D) Primary; secondary
E) Primary; in

Question 6

A group of college alumni meet regularly to watch football games.According to sociologists,this is an example of a/n

A) global group.
B) aggression.
C) aggregate.
D) social group.
E) reference group.

Question 7

Athletic teams,close friends,families,and religious congregations are all examples of

A) roles.
B) aggregates.
C) direct groups.
D) indirect groups.
E) social groups.

Question 8

A/n _____ is a group that shapes our behavior,values and attitudes,and influences who we'd like to be in the future.

A) in-group
B) out-group
C) primary group
D) secondary group
E) reference group

Question 9

A/n _____ is a small group of people who engage in frequent and intense interaction.

A) out-group
B) benchmark group
C) reference group
D) primary group
E) secondary group

Question 10

Tucker is involved in the Jewish Awareness Club on campus.He strongly identifies with his Jewish faith and chooses to spend most of his free time with Jewish friends.For Tucker,the Jewish Awareness Club is a/n

A) ethnic group.
B) consciousness group.
C) in-group.
D) out-group.
E) reference group.

Question 11

Your sociology class this semester is an example of a/n

A) primary group.
B) secondary group.
C) out-group.
D) benchmark group.
E) ideal group.

Question 12

Which of the following does not make up a social group?

A) Tawny and Stella, twin sisters who "share everything"
B) Logan and Leo, who are African Americans and celebrate Kwanza
C) Isabella, Lacey, and Amanda, who have played on the school volleyball team for three years together
D) Alton and Rachel, college students who are active members of the Campus Catholic Club
E) Marge, a 14-year-old who enjoys playing online computer games

Question 13

Willa belongs to the Debate Team at her high school.The team meets once a week for one hour in the school library to practice for competitions.For Willa,the Debate Team is an example of a/n

A) primary group.
B) secondary group.
C) in-group.
D) out-group.
E) reference group.

Question 14

Which of the following is not a social group?

A) friends
B) families
C) television programming
D) norms
E) work groups

Question 15

_____ are those that share a sense of identity and exclude and devalue outsiders.

A) In-groups
B) Out-groups
C) Primary groups
D) Secondary groups
E) Reference groups

Question 16

_____ are typically large and impersonal.

A) Primary groups
B) Secondary groups
C) In-groups
D) Out-groups
E) Reference groups

Question 17

Which of the following is not an example of a social group?

A) twenty college students who meet weekly to promote a local candidate
B) eight teens who chat online about their favorite television characters each afternoon after school
C) an individual who wants to be one of the "cool" kids
D) two best friends who are "like sisters"
E) ninety students in the college choir

Question 18

Alexander and Evan are huge fans of their college football team,the Warriors.For them,anything "Warrior" is good.The Warriors' chief rivals are the Eagles.Alexander and Evan have written a number of chants which are meant to antagonize the Eagles' fans.For Alexander and Evan,the Eagles are a/n

A) in-group.
B) out-group.
C) reference group.
D) primary group.
E) secondary group.

Question 19

A _________ group is a relatively small group of people who engage in intimate face-to-face interaction over an extended period of time.

A) cool
B) out
C) ideal-type
D) secondary
E) primary

Question 20

Family and close friends are examples of

A) in-groups.
B) primary groups.
C) out-groups.
D) secondary groups.
E) benchmark groups.

Question 21

Groupthink is

A) choosing the path of least resistance when working with others.
B) attempting to persuade others to agree with you.
C) a software program that predicts group behavior.
D) a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment that results from in-group pressures.
E) a decision-making process where an individual weighs group decisions against his/her own before making a decision.

Question 22

Which of the following is not one of the four types of voluntary associations?

A) groups with a charitable purpose
B) groups with a bureaucratic purpose
C) groups that focus on political issues
D) groups that organize around occupations
E) groups that focus on leisure activities

Question 23

Sophia is a sociology professor.She is responsible for teaching two medical sociology classes each semester and is also the advisor for the Sociology Club.Which of Weber's ideal type characteristics best illustrates Sophia's activities?

A) high degree of division of labor and specialization
B) hierarchy of authority
C) explicit written rules and regulations
D) impersonality
E) qualifications-based employment

Question 24

Cody is a member of the LA Crips.The other gangs in his territory are the Bloods and Satan's Slaves.Cody feels antagonistic toward the Bloods and Satan's Slaves.For Cody,these two rival gangs would be considered a/n

A) reference group.
B) in-group.
C) out-group.
D) primary group.
E) secondary group.

Question 25

___________ examined group conformity by asking subjects to rate the length of a line drawn on a card.Subjects were surrounded by "confederates" who all purposely gave the wrong answer.

A) Solomon Asch
B) Stanley Milgram
C) Philip Zimbardo
D) Irving Janis
E) Jane Addams

Question 26

_____ are webs of social ties that link individuals to one another.

A) Social muddles
B) Social networks
C) Social systems
D) Social interactions
E) Social organisms

Question 27

______ focused on "groupthink" and the negative effects of not questioning controversial issues.

A) Emile Durkheim
B) Karl Marx
C) Max Weber
D) Irving Janis
E) Jane Addams

Question 28

Asch's studies,in which subjects were asked to match lines on cards,showed that

A) people tend to see most things differently.
B) people often lie to those who have authority.
C) group membership generates conformity.
D) leaders compete for power in social groups.
E) group membership generates individuality.

Question 29

According to Max Weber,which of the following is not one of the ideal type characteristics of bureaucracies?

A) high degree of division of labor and specialization
B) hierarchy of authority
C) explicit written rules and regulations
D) professionalism
E) qualifications-based employment

Question 30

Which of the following is not a characteristic of a formal organization?

A) Social statuses and roles are organized around shared expectations and goals.
B) Norms governing social relationships specify the members' rights.
C) The social structure is informal and contingent upon the members' experiences.
D) A formal hierarchy includes leaders or people who are "in charge."
E) Norms governing social relationships specify the members' duties and sanctions.

Question 31

McDonaldization refers to the rise of which of the following trends in societies?

A) impersonal relationships, division of labor, provision of life-long careers
B) short term relationships, connections based on goals, goal directed activities
C) efficiency, predictability, calculability, increased control
D) impersonal relationships, decreased efficiency
E) short term relationships, division of labor, provision of life-long careers

Question 32

Grace and Mia are "friends" on facebook.com.They have only met once,but frequently post messages on each other's "wall." Grace and Mia,along with their other "friends," form a

A) reference group.
B) social group.
C) oligarchy.
D) primary group.
E) social network.

Question 33

____________ tested whether subjects would obey an authority's instructions by giving electric shocks to "learners" who were memorizing words.

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

Question 34

A _____ is a formal organization that is designed to accomplish goals and tasks by large numbers of people.

A) voluntary association
B) formal association
C) bureaucracy
D) government
E) civil organization

Question 35

At the Barkley Company,there are forty employees.Addison is the President and CEO.Below her,Jack and Ross are managers.The thirty-seven others work below the managers in the storeroom or on the show floor.Which of Weber's ideal characteristics does this exemplify?

A) high degree of division of labor and specialization
B) hierarchy of authority
C) explicit written rules and regulations
D) impersonality
E) qualification based employment

Question 36

A voluntary association is a formal organization that is

A) founded by individuals who are not paid for their experience.
B) created by commonly held values of public good.
C) formed by people who share common interests.
D) shaped by individuals' interests in "doing good."
E) created by people who share a common set of interests and who do not get paid for their participation.

Question 37

In this "prison" experiment,subjects were assigned to be either prisoners or guards.Which of the following researchers conducted this study?

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

Question 38

Abigail wants to be a nurse after she graduates from college.She has joined the Young Nurses Club on campus and volunteers at Community Hospital after class.For Abigail,nurses are a/n

A) primary group.
B) secondary group.
C) reference group.
D) in-group.
E) out-group.

Question 39

A _____ is a complex and structured secondary group that is deliberately created to achieve a specific goal in an efficient manner.

A) primary group
B) secondary group
C) formal group
D) formal organization
E) primary organization

Question 40

The United Way,the Green Party and the National Rifle Association are examples of

A) bureaucracies.
B) formal groups.
C) reference groups.
D) voluntary associations.
E) voluntary groups.

Question 41

Mr.and Mrs.Turner travel around the country in their R.V.They always choose to stop at the local Wendy's because they always know what to expect.Which component of McDonaldization does this example illustrate?

A) efficiency
B) calculability
C) control
D) predictability
E) creativity

Question 42

The _____ of the early 1900s found that informal groups were critical to an organization's functioning.

A) Zimbardo studies
B) Hawthorne studies
C) Milgram studies
D) Asch experiments
E) Implementation experiments

Question 43

The basic idea behind scientific management is that

A) most workers are capable of handling the simplest tasks.
B) if left alone, workers will be productive.
C) most workers need minimal supervision.
D) management can use scientific principles to increase productivity.
E) employees are not motivated by financial incentives.

Question 44

Feminist theories most closely resemble which other major theoretical perspective?

A) symbolic interactionism
B) functionalism
C) rational choice theory
D) conflict theory
E) exchange theory

Question 45

Functionalists believe that

A) organizations perform best when individuals communicate effectively.
B) groups are governed by a small, elite groups 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 46

_____ rely on both macro and micro level factors to explain the dynamics within groups and organizations.

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

Question 47

According to feminist theorists,women hit _____; organizational biases that prevent them from achieving the highest leadership positions.

A) Plexiglass
B) a brick wall
C) a glass ceiling
D) discrimination
E) a "Mommy Tax"

Question 48

Income,status and other rewards allow some owners and managers to exploit workers.This statement exemplifies which major theoretical perspective?

A) functionalism
B) conflict theory
C) symbolic interactionism
D) exchange theory
E) feminist theory

Question 49

_____ contend that greater equality between workers and managers is beneficial to an organization.

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

Question 50

Paige and Allen work at the same car factory.Allen assembles door frames and Paige assembles car seats.Both work a full eight hours per day.While they know that each piece they assemble is part of a larger project,Allen and Paige never see the final product,a car.This is an example of which shortcoming of bureaucracies?

A) a weak reward system
B) bureaucratic ritualism
C) alienation
D) Parkinson's Law
E) Peter Principle

Question 51

Which of the following is not a component of Ritzer's "McDonaldization" of society?

A) efficiency
B) predictability
C) creativity
D) calculability
E) control

Question 52

According to some critics,_____ are too focused on the work dynamics of whites and blacks,especially those in professional and managerial positions.

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

Question 53

Before starting their first day of work,employees at The Friendship Store are required to read the 81-page employee handbook,which addresses issues ranging from health insurance to acceptable attire on "casual Fridays." Which of Weber's ideal characteristics does this exemplify?

A) high degree of division of labor and specialization
B) hierarchy of authority
C) explicit written rules and regulations
D) impersonality
E) qualification based employment

Question 54

_____ tend to overstate stability and ignore worker dissatisfaction and alienation.

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

Question 55

Two friends visit a local McDonald's.They quickly order a "#1" and a "#4." Which component of McDonaldization does this situation illustrate?

A) efficiency
B) calculability
C) control
D) predictability
E) creativity

Question 56

The ____________ states that people are promoted until they reach their level of incompetence.

A) Reward Principle
B) Bureaucratic Effect
C) Iron Law of Oligarchy
D) Parkinson's Law
E) Peter Principle

Question 57

_____ assert that organizations are based on power differentials.

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

Question 58

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) feminist theorists
E) rational choice theorists

Question 59

Weber believed that bureaucracies were superior to other forms of organizations because they are

A) less demanding of workers.
B) less formal and more productive.
C) more efficient and more predictable.
D) accepting of workers' personal likes and dislikes.
E) more lenient towards workers.

Question 60

Students in a sociology class are taking a test today.The exam consists of 50 multiple-choice questions.After 20 minutes,several students have finished their exams.However,the students remain seated,pretending to be going over their answers "one last time." Even though they are confident in their answers,these students wait to turn in their exam,hoping to not be the first one done.This is an example of which shortcoming of bureaucracies?

A) a weak reward system
B) bureaucratic ritualism
C) alienation
D) Parkinson's Law
E) Peter Principle

Question 61

_____ replaces members of society through procreation.

A) The family
B) The criminal justice system
C) The health care industry
D) The economy
E) Religion

Question 62

Zachary is studying who controls an organization's resources and decision-making.Zachary is a/n

A) functionalist.
B) conflict theorist.
C) symbolic interactionist.
D) exchange theorist.
E) feminist theorist.

Question 63

Alicia is studying why some employees choose to ignore or change an organization's rules.Alicia is a/n

A) functionalist.
B) conflict theorist.
C) symbolic interactionist.
D) exchange theorist.
E) feminist theorist.

Question 64

In the Hawthorne studies,work groups pressured people to limit output.Which one of the following was not binged for violating the group's norms?

A) rate-busters
B) speed kings
C) ritualists
D) chiselers
E) squealers

Question 65

_____ provides a sense of meaning and purpose to members of a society.

A) Family
B) Economy
C) The political institution
D) Education
E) Religion

Question 66

_____ emphasize how people define situations and,in turn,how these definitions shape groups and organizations.

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

Question 67

_____ formally socializes and trains members of society.

A) Family
B) Economy
C) The political institution
D) Education
E) Religion

Question 68

Riley is studying gendered stereotypes in an organization.Riley is a/n

A) functionalist.
B) conflict theorist.
C) symbolic interactionist.
D) exchange theorist.
E) feminist theorist.

Question 69

Zimbardo's and Milgram's research violated which of the following ethical guidelines?

A) must obtain informed consent
B) must not harm, humiliate or abuse participants
C) must identify sponsors
D) must honor privacy of participants
E) must be as accurate as possible

Question 70

The dominant model in many large organizations today is

A) bureaucracies.
B) self-managing work teams.
C) administration.
D) supervisor/supervisee.
E) Officialdom.

Question 71

The _____ organizes a society's distribution of goods and services.

A) family
B) economy
C) political institution
D) education
E) market

Question 72

The _____ maintains law and order.

A) family
B) economy
C) political institution
D) military
E) religion

Question 73

For sociologists,a social institution refers to

A) the norms that are required to maintain a society over time.
B) an organized and established social system that meets one or more of a society's basic needs.
C) general traits that describe a social phenomenon rather than every case.
D) a generalization about an observation.
E) the combination of five major social needs.

Question 74

An organization can best be defined as

A) a large social group with established or standardized patterns of rule-governed behavior.
B) an institution that develops structured ways of fulfilling the needs, wants, and desires of its members.
C) a complex and structured secondary group created to achieve specific goals in an efficient manner.
D) a social group with little hierarchy whose members make decisions collectively.
E) a small group with established or standardized patterns of behavior.

Question 75

Colleen is an aspiring movie star.Which of the following may be her reference group?

A) professors
B) doctors
C) actors
D) engineers
E) lawyers

Question 76

Results from Asch's research found that when questioned in the presence of others _____ percent of nonconfederate participants agreed with the false judgments of others.

A) 68
B) 49
C) 37
D) 15
E) 10

Question 77

In the "iron law of oligarchy,"

A) workers and managers compete for control of the bureaucracy.
B) a small group of people dominates the bureaucracy.
C) workers are promoted until they reach a level of incompetence.
D) rigid rules create and reinforce bureaucratic ritualism.
E) a small work group accomplishes more incompetence.

Question 78

_____ focus on micro-level factors when studying organizations and groups.

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

Question 79

Which of the following is not a major social institution?

A) family
B) the economy
C) a police department
D) education
E) religion

Question 80

Aidan is studying why some organizations are more effective than others.Aidan is a/n

A) functionalist.
B) conflict theorist.
C) symbolic interactionist.
D) exchange theorist.
E) feminist theorist.