Deck 6: Social Groups, Organizations, and Social Institutions

Question 1

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.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Chloe has been accepted at one of the top medical schools in her country.She has also been provided hostel accommodation.She is excited about her first year in college.Which of the following groups will be her primary group?

A) Students in her biology class
B) Members of her basketball team
C) Her roommates whom she will meet with even after college
D) Her professors who will guide her for the next few years
E) Members of her music class whom she had worked with for a few weeks

Answer 2

C

Question 3

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

Answer 3

True

Question 4

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 5

Martha is wrong in expecting her choir group to adhere to group norms when interacting with her.

Question 6

Functionalists believe strongly in the functionality of organizations especially bureaucracies.

Question 7

Membership in coercive organizations is largely involuntary.

Question 8

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

Question 9

A primary group is a large group of people we interact with over a short period of time.

Question 10

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

Question 11

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

Question 12

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

Question 13

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

Question 14

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

Question 15

Charles is a democratic leader.He will generally be controlling and bossy.

Question 16

Secondary groups meet our expressive needs.

Question 17

Lilian, her siblings, and her cousins attend the same school.She had 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 18

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 19

A dyad is the most cohesive of all groups.

Question 20

An out-group consists of people who shape our behavior, values, and attitudes.

Question 21

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) secondary group
E) out-group

Question 22

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 23

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

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

Question 24

_____ 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 25

Which of the following is a 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 interact over the phone or through emails.

Question 26

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 27

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

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

Question 28

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

A) End-to-end processing
B) Egalitarian distribution of authority
C) Creativity and innovation
D) Highly personal workplaces
E) Qualifications-based employment

Question 29

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

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

Question 30

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 31

Kriyoto Inc., a finance company, has strict rules and regulations.All employees are expected to conform to the 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 problem
B) Alienation
C) Anticipatory socialization
D) Goal displacement
E) Groupthink

Question 32

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 a 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 33

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 34

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 35

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

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

Question 36

Gary is the leader of a treasure hunt group.Instead of providing any instructions to his group members, he allows each one 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 37

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 follow a democratic system of operations.

Question 38

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 39

Cynthia is a medical intern who is undergoing six months of training.She aspires to be a successful cardiologist in the future.Who among the following will be her reference group?

A) Her professors in medical school
B) Doctors
C) Her classmates in medical school
D) Nurses
E) Her family

Question 40

A(n) _____ refers to people who share a sense of identity and "we-ness" that typically excludes and devalues outsiders.

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

Question 41

_____ 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 42

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 43

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 44

In the context of social institutions, _____ organizes a society's development, production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

A) a political institution
B) a labor union
C) education
D) the trade union
E) the economy

Question 45

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) Political institutions
B) The family
C) The economy
D) Education
E) Religious institutions

Question 46

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 47

Kenneth Hill Inc.claims to be an employee-centered company.It has created a system of management wherein 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 resulted in a huge disparity in the income and statuses of workers and created a negative workplace environment.This type of organizational behavior is explained by _____.

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

Question 48

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 faster than their female counterparts.
C) performer 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 49

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

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

Question 50

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

A)
Utilitarian perspective
B) functionalist perspective
C) conflict perspective
D) feminist perspective
E) symbolic interactionist perspective

Question 51

According to functionalists, _____ is a major social institution.

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

Question 52

Which of the following is a weakness of the 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 53

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 54

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

A) The feminist theory
B) The conflict theory
C) Symbolic interactionism
D) Functionalism
E) Utilitarianism

Question 55

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 56

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 will be able 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) made in charge of 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 57

Katrina, an experienced and resourceful employee, was not promoted as a manager in spite of being well deserving.Her male counterparts, who are not as efficient as her, have been promoted and given a pay raise.It appears that Katrina's only disadvantage is that she is 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 58

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(n) _____.

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

Question 59

_____ 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) McDonalization
D) Calibration
E) Goal displacement

Question 60

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

A) equality in income
B) limited working hours
C) favoritism
D) job security
E) effective leadership

Question 61

Briefly explain the communication problems encountered in bureaucracies.

Question 62

Briefly describe the views expressed in conflict theory.

Question 63

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 healthier lunches.
E) It encourages students to walk to school.

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) Education
C) Her religion
D) Political institutions in her state
E) The economy

Question 65

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

Question 66

What is a reference group?

Question 67

List the common characteristics of formal organizations.

Question 68

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

Question 69

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

Question 70

What was the conclusion of Philip Zimbardo's experiment?

Question 71

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) Political institutions

Question 72

Briefly describe the six characteristics of bureaucracies.

Question 73

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

A) family system
B) educational system
C) economical system
D) political system
E) health-research system

Question 74

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

Question 75

What are the five major social institutions?

Question 76

Jamie strongly believes that people should not consume any form of meat or 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 responsible for shaping Jamie's belief?

A) The political system
B) Marriage
C) Law
D) Religion
E) The economy

Question 77

What is a utilitarian organization?

Question 78

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

Question 79

List any four shortcomings of bureaucracies.

Question 80

Explain the concept of coercive organizations with an example.