Deck 6: The American Society: Family and Households

Question 1

Most families pass through an orderly progression of stages, each with its own characteristics, financial situation, and purchasing patterns, which is the basic assumption underlying the _____ approach.

A) household life cycle (HLC)
B) product life cycle (PLC)
C) brand life cycle (BLC)
D) inevitable cycle (IC)
E) predictable cycle (PC)

Answer 1

A
Explanation: The HLC assumes that households move into a variety of relatively distinct and well-defined categories over time.

Question 2

Which of the following is a household factor that influences purchase and consumption behavior?

A) structure of household unit
B) stage of the household life cycle
C) household decision process
D) A and B
E) A, B, and C

Answer 2

E
Explanation: The household influences most consumption decisions.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT considered a "middle-aged" stage of the household life cycle?

A) single II
B) full nest II
C) delayed full nest I
D) single parent II
E) Empty nest II

Answer 3

E
Explanation: Empty nest II is part of the older stage of the household life cycle.

Question 4

According to the Census Bureau, a _____ household is a householder living alone or exclusively with others to whom he or she is not related.

A) family
B) nonfamily
C) traditional
D) blended
E) consumption

Question 5

Which of the following is considered a "younger" stage of the household life cycle?

A) single parent II
B) single II
C) single III
D) full nest I
E) empty nest I

Question 6

Janet is a 60-year-old secretary with a retired husband and 30-year-old unemployed son who lives at home. Janet's 90-year-old widowed mother May, who is disabled, has lived with the family for six years. May's Social Security and Medicare do not adequately cover her living and medical expenses. Which type of family is represented here?

A) multigenerational family
B) stepfamily
C) traditional family
D) nontraditional family
E) senior family

Question 7

Which type of family consists of a married couple and their own or adopted children living at home?

A) nontraditional family
B) traditional family
C) blended family
D) stepfamily
E) combination family

Question 8

Ashley and her husband just had their first child. Ashley was married previously, and her two young children from that marriage also live with Ashley and her current husband. Which type of family is this?

A) nontraditional family
B) traditional family
C) multigenerational family
D) secondary family
E) stepfamily

Question 9

John and Dawn have been married for more than 20 years. They have lived in their home in Northville, MI (a suburb of Detroit), with their three children for most of those years. According to the Census Bureau, which type of household do they live in?

A) suburban household
B) urban household
C) rural household
D) blended family household
E) family household

Question 10

Stages of the household life cycle are based on ____.

A) age of the adult members
B) marital status of the adult members
C) presence of children
D) age of children
E) all of the above

Question 11

A _____ has at least two members related by birth, marriage, or adoption, one of whom is the householder (i.e., the one who owns or rents the residence).

A) family household
B) blended family household
C) consumption unit
D) household
E) nontraditional family household

Question 12

According to the Census Bureau, all the people who occupy a housing unit is defined as a _____.

A) buying unit
B) blended family
C) family household
D) household
E) traditional family

Question 13

Sarah and her three roommates share an apartment. According to the Census Bureau, Sarah and her roommates constitute a _____.

A) family
B) nontraditional family
C) subculture
D) blended family
E) household

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a reason multigenerational families offer opportunities and challenges for marketers?

A) Some members are caregivers to family members or friends.
B) Several generations might live in one household.
C) Some members are less technologically proficient.
D) They are not easy to identify and reach.
E) All of the above offer opportunities and challenges.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a reason for the decline in traditional families?

A) an increase in single parent households as a result of divorce
B) an increase in single individuals as the median age of marriage is delayed
C) an increase in sole survivors as our population ages
D) a change in the way the Census Bureau has defined "traditional family"
E) All of the above are reasons for the decline in traditional families.

Question 16

Which type of family consists of a married couple, one or both of whom were previously married, their children, and the children from the previous marriage of one or both parents?

A) nontraditional family
B) traditional family
C) nonfamily household
D) stepfamily
E) combination family

Question 17

Barry and Laurie have been married for almost 20 years, and this is the first marriage for both of them. They have two children living at home. Which type of family is this?

A) nontraditional family
B) traditional family
C) blended family
D) stepfamily
E) combination family

Question 18

Single households represent _____ percent of American households.

A) 27
B) 2
C) 5
D) 15
E) 10

Question 19

Eric and Elizabeth live together in the same apartment but are not married. According to the Census Bureau, which type of household do they represent?

A) family household
B) blended household
C) nonfamily household
D) nontraditional household
E) nonconformist household

Question 20

What is the basic consumption unit for most consumer goods?

A) organization
B) household
C) individual
D) husband
E) wife

Question 21

Bobbie is 47 years old, has never been married, and does not have any children of her own. She lives alone and doesn't like to cook because most recipes feed more than one person. She can only eat so many leftovers, and she usually forgets about it if she freezes to eat at a later date. So she purchases frozen dinners and canned food that come in single servings. To which stage of the household life cycle does Bobbie belong?

A) middle-aged single (or single II)
B) middle-aged empty nest
C) empty nest I
D) empty nest II
E) single III

Question 22

Teri and Ed are in their 40s, are childless, and were married for 15 years but are now divorced. However, Teri has always wanted children, so she adopted a daughter, who is now 2 years old. To which stage of the household life cycle do Teri and her daughter belong?

A) single parent I
B) divorced parent I
C) single parent II
D) full nest I
E) delayed full nest I

Question 23

Which of the following is considered an "older" stage of the household life cycle?

A) single II
B) delayed full nest I
C) single III
D) single parent II
E) empty nest I

Question 24

Tony and Katie are in their 50s, and both have careers that keep them very busy. However, their children are grown, so they have more free time and money than they used to have. Which type of product or service are they likely to spend LESS money on than they have in the past?

A) food at home
B) expensive vacations
C) meals out
D) house-cleaning
E) luxury cars

Question 25

Consumers in which stage of the household life cycle are over 64 years of age; are either fully or partially retired; are healthy, active, and often financially well-off; and are a big market for RVs, cruises, and second homes?

A) single I
B) single II
C) empty nest I
D) empty nest II
E) delayed empty nest

Question 26

The trend toward later marriage and children has resulted in which of the following?

A) More than 80 percent of all married couples with children under 18 now fall into the middle age HLC categories of delayed full nest I and full nest II.
B) Now, 71 percent of all married couples with children under 18 fall into the middle age HLC categories of delayed full nest I and full nest II.
C) Now, the empty nest I HLC category does not begin until married couples are over 64 years old.
D) The stage of the HLC labeled empty nest I no longer exists.
E) Now, 71 percent of all married couples do not experience the empty nest II stage of the HLC.

Question 27

Sheila and Jim are both professionals in their late 30s and have two children under the age of 5. Which stage of the household life cycle are they in?

A) young married
B) full nest I
C) full nest II
D) delayed full nest I
E) laggards

Question 28

Which HLC group is basically the unmarried members of the Generation Yers?

A) single I
B) single II
C) single III
D) single X/Y
E) empty nest

Question 29

Stacy and Adam have just had their first child, and they hope to have two more. They can expect expenditures on which of the following to increase?

A) meals out
B) education
C) personal care products
D) food at home
E) alcoholic beverages

Question 30

When a couple has children, expenditures on which of the following do NOT usually decrease?

A) alcoholic beverages
B) meals out
C) health care
D) personal care products
E) adult apparel

Question 31

Mike is a 23-year-old recent college graduate and is starting his career as a pharmaceutical sales representative. He will be living in an extended-stay hotel in the city where he will undergo training, but once he finishes that, he plans on renting a nice apartment with a friend of his from college. He also wants to purchase a sports car and save money for a ski vacation next year. To which stage of the household life cycle does Mike belong?

A) single I
B) single II
C) beginning
D) introduction
E) growth

Question 32

Which stage of the household life cycle is made up of people between the ages of 35 and 64 who have never married and those who are divorced and have no child-rearing responsibilities?

A) middle-aged single (or single II)
B) middle-aged childless
C) empty nest I
D) empty nest II
E) single III

Question 33

What is a major difference between the full nest II and delayed full nest I stages of the household life cycle?

A) income
B) age of the parents
C) age of the children
D) number of children
E) years married

Question 34

Julie and Bart are both in their late 20s and recently married. They have no children and are learning how to make joint decisions. Recent purchase/service decisions were related to household furnishings, a washer and dryer, and insurance coverage. Which stage of the household life cycle are they experiencing?

A) young married
B) full nest
C) empty nest
D) introduction
E) growth

Question 35

What is a major difference between delayed full nest I and younger new parents?

A) the number of children
B) income
C) education
D) commitment
E) years married

Question 36

While roughly 40 percent of children are born to unmarried mothers, this may not be an accurate representation of the situation. A more accurate representation of the situation may be gained by looking at the percentage of American households that are single-parent families. What is that percentage?

A) 2 percent
B) 5 percent
C) 9 percent
D) 14 percent
E) 21 percent

Question 37

Roughly what percentage of children are born to unmarried mothers, a percentage that has risen by 13 percentage points since 1990?

A) 10 percent
B) 25 percent
C) 40 percent
D) 50 percent
E) 66 percent

Question 38

Forty-eight percent of females classified as "single I" _____.

A) live alone
B) live with parent(s)
C) live with others
D) are divorced
E) are engaged to be married

Question 39

Teresa and John are both in their 40s and have two children living at home. Their daughter, Erin, is 14 years old, and their son, Stephen, is 11 years old. To which stage of the household life cycle do they belong?

A) young married
B) full nest I
C) full nest II
D) delayed full nest I
E) laggards

Question 40

Which of the following is NOT a description of the household life cycle stage known as "empty nest I: middle-aged with no children"?

A) married couples who have never had children
B) second marriages in which children from a first marriage are not living with the parent
C) married couples whose children have left home
D) married couples who have adopted children who are still living at home
E) All of the above are characteristics of this household life cycle stage.

Question 41

Which family purchase role is played by the individual(s) who makes the final decision?

A) initiator
B) information gatherer
C) influencer
D) decision maker
E) user

Question 42

While the entire family is usually involved in major purchase decisions, Lisa is the one who usually makes the actual purchase. What family purchase role does Lisa play?

A) initiator
B) information gatherer
C) influencer
D) decision maker
E) purchaser

Question 43

While Katie and Matthew are the children in the family, they do influence the alternatives considered for their family's summer vacation. What role do Katie and Matthew play in this family decision?

A) initiators
B) information gatherers
C) influencers
D) decision makers
E) purchasers

Question 44

Which of the following is a family purchase role?

A) initiator
B) information gatherer
C) user
D) purchaser
E) all of the above

Question 45

Consumers who are single due to the death of a spouse are labeled _____.

A) single by death
B) single by choice
C) single by circumstance
D) single again
E) unwillingly single

Question 46

Stan has noticed that his car is not working properly and that it is getting expensive to repair. Thus, he gathered his family together to discuss the purchase of a new automobile. In terms of family purchase roles, which one best describes Stan's actions?

A) initiator
B) information gatherer
C) influencer
D) decision maker
E) user

Question 47

The consumer insight on remodeling discusses mechanisms underlying household lifecycle changes. The mechanism relating to physical needs now or in future relating to how space is used is _____.

A) prioritizing
B) embodying
C) adapting
D) socialization
E) mediation

Question 48

Bob is in the sixth grade. His family does not own a computer, and he really needs one to do his homework. He also wants one so he can play some of the games he hears his friends talking about. His parents realize that he needs a computer, but they really have no need for one and probably will never use it. Because they don't know much about computers, they are letting Bob do all the research and asked him to find the options that will meet his needs. However, his parents are the ones who will make the final decision on how much to spend and which computer to purchase. In terms of the family purchase roles, which role do Bob's parents play?

A) initiator
B) information gatherer
C) influencer
D) decision maker
E) user

Question 49

Ray is retired, and he and his wife are both in their late 60s. They are healthy, active, and financially well-off. They purchased an RV and plan to travel to all 48 of the continental United States. Which stage of the household life cycle describes them?

A) childless
B) jobless
C) retired
D) empty nest I
E) empty nest II

Question 50

The vertical axis in the HLC/occupational category matrix represents _____, which determines the problems the household will likely encounter.

A) a set of occupational categories
B) the number of children in the household
C) the household income
D) the stage in the household life cycle
E) current economic conditions

Question 51

_____ is the process by which decisions that directly or indirectly involve two or more family members are made.

A) Household decision making
B) Consumer decision making
C) Family decision making
D) Joint decision making
E) Group decision making

Question 52

A family purchase decision differs from an organizational decision in _____.

A) the level of emotion involved
B) the involvement of multiple people in the decision
C) the absence of time pressure
D) the fact that different people play different roles in the purchase
E) all of the above

Question 53

The family member who first recognizes a need or starts the purchase process is known as the _____.

A) initiator
B) information gatherer
C) influencer
D) decision maker
E) user

Question 54

Carla and John are both children, but they use their family's electronic equipment such as TVs, DVD players, and stereo equipment. They did not play much of a role in the purchase decision on which brands to buy, but their parents did consider their needs when deciding on which products and brands to purchase. In terms of family purchase roles, what role do these children play?

A) initiator
B) information gatherer
C) influencer
D) user
E) C and D

Question 55

What family purchase role is played by the individual who actually purchases the product the family has decided upon?

A) initiator
B) information gatherer
C) influencer
D) decision maker
E) purchaser

Question 56

Research suggests that older singles who are single by circumstance (i.e., death of a spouse) will _____.

A) be less innovative
B) be more risk averse
C) be more price sensitive
D) engage in coping behaviors such as spending more time watching television
E) all of the above

Question 57

The consumer insight on remodeling discusses mechanisms underlying household lifecycle changes. The mechanism relating to awareness of need to modify the physical arrangement of their homes is ____.

A) prioritizing
B) embodying
C) adapting
D) socialization
E) mediation

Question 58

Barbara is 72 years old and has been a widow for almost three years. She would be labeled _____.

A) single by death
B) single by choice
C) single by circumstance
D) single again
E) unwillingly single

Question 59

The consumer insight on remodeling discusses mechanisms underlying household life cycle changes. The mechanism relating to balancing competing commitments on how a given space is used is:

A) prioritizing
B) embodying
C) adapting
D) socialization
E) mediation

Question 60

The horizontal axis in the HLC/occupational category matrix represents _____, which provides a range of acceptable solutions.

A) a set of occupational categories
B) the number of children in the household
C) the household income
D) stage in the household life cycle
E) current economic conditions

Question 61

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding the nature of family purchases and the roles played by various family members?

A) Individuals tend to play the same role for all decisions.
B) All family members tend to be involved in every stage of the decision process.
C) Over time, each spouse develops more specialized roles as a part of the family lifestyle and family responsibilities.
D) Individual family members play only a single role in a given purchase decision.
E) The stage of the decision process does not influence decision roles.

Question 62

Regarding the balance of family purchase roles, which of the following traditionally male-dominated categories is(are) tipping toward the wife?

A) TV remote control
B) household finances
C) family weekend activities
D) A and B
E) all of the above

Question 63

Which approach to conflict resolution misrepresents the facts in order to win?

A) bargaining
B) use of authority
C) impression management
D) playing on emotion
E) reasoning

Question 64

Hank and Carol have been married for more than 20 years, and in that time they have purchased six automobiles. Hank is the one who usually does all the research and decides what they can afford, while Carol just gets involved when it's time to decide among a few alternatives, and she really only cares about the comfort and styling. Which of the following category of family decision making does this illustrate?

A) husband-dominant
B) wife-dominant
C) individualized
D) single role
E) dual role

Question 65

Hispanics who identify most strongly with their Hispanic subcultures are most likely to engage in _____.

A) wife-dominated decisions
B) husband-dominated decisions
C) joint decisions
D) child-dominated decisions
E) none of the above

Question 66

A major basis for concern about marketing to children is their inability to fully process and understand commercial messages. Much of the theory and research in this area is based on _____.

A) Asch's diffusion theory
B) Weber's intellect enhancement theory
C) Piaget's stages of cognitive development
D) Pavlov's process acquisition stages
E) none of the above

Question 67

The process in which young people acquire skills, knowledge, and attitudes relevant to their functioning as consumers in the marketplaces is known as _____.

A) consumer education
B) consumer socialization
C) consumer programming
D) consumer research
E) consumer acclimation

Question 68

Which of these categories is NOT part of the content of consumer learning?

A) consumer skills
B) learning skills
C) consumption-related preferences
D) consumption-related attitudes
E) All of the above are part of the content of consumer learning.

Question 69

Which of the following can influence how family members interact in a purchase decision?

A) culture or subculture in which the family exists
B) role specialization of different family members
C) degree of involvement each has in the product area of concern
D) personal characteristics of the family members
E) all of the above

Question 70

Families considering the purchase of products such as a house, furniture, or a vacation, typically use which type of family decision making?

A) husband-dominant
B) wife-dominant
C) individualized
D) joint
E) child-dominant

Question 71

In children's information processing, the period of preoperational thought is characterized by _____.

A) an absence of conceptual thought
B) the development of language
C) the development of the ability to apply logical thought to concrete problems
D) the development of the ability to apply logic to all types of problems
E) none of the above

Question 72

Karen and her kids were hungry and were trying to decide where to eat for dinner. After several minutes of bickering, Karen decided where they were going to go. Her children balked at her decision and asked why she got to decide, and she said, "Because I'm your mother and I said so!" Which approach did Karen use to resolve this family conflict?

A) bargaining
B) use of authority
C) impression management
D) playing on emotion
E) reasoning

Question 73

Those capabilities necessary for purchases to occur such as understanding money, budgeting, product evaluation, and so forth are referred to as _____.

A) buying skills
B) consumption-related preferences
C) consumption-related attitudes
D) instrumental skills
E) consumer skills

Question 74

Which of the following is NOT a basic approach that individuals in a family use to resolve purchase conflicts after they have arisen?

A) bargaining
B) use of authority
C) physical force
D) playing on emotion
E) reasoning

Question 75

Which of the following are ways to categorize family decision making?

A) husband-dominant
B) wife-dominant
C) individualized
D) child-dominant
E) all of the above

Question 76

Which of the following refers to HOW children learn with respect to consumption?

A) the process of consumer socialization
B) the rate of consumer socialization
C) the impact of consumer socialization
D) the content of consumer socialization
E) the influence of consumer socialization

Question 77

Which of the following refers to WHAT children learn with respect to consumption?

A) the process of consumer socialization
B) the rate of consumer socialization
C) the impact of consumer socialization
D) the content of consumer socialization
E) the influence of consumer socialization

Question 78

In children's information processing, the period of formal operations is characterized by _____.

A) an absence of conceptual thought
B) the development of language
C) the development of the ability to apply logical thought to concrete problems
D) the development of the ability to apply logic to all types of problems
E) none of the above

Question 79

In children's information processing, the period of concrete operations is characterized by _____.

A) an absence of conceptual thought
B) the development of language
C) the development of the ability to apply logical thought to concrete problems
D) the development of the ability to apply logic to all types of problems
E) none of the above

Question 80

In children's information processing, the period of sensorimotor intelligence is characterized by _____.

A) an absence of conceptual thought
B) the development of language
C) the development of the ability to apply logical thought to concrete problems
D) the development of the ability to apply logic to all types of problems
E) none of the above