Deck 5: Groups, Networks, and Organizations

Question 1

Which of the following is an example of the norm of reciprocity in action?

A) Joe buys his new infant son a baseball glove.
B) Penny gives Margaret a ride to school all semester, so Margaret types Penny's term paper.
C) Joe buys himself an ice cream cone.
D) Margot yells at Rob after he yells at her.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Don and James were both in line for a big promotion.The management decided to review all the projects on which each man had worked during the previous five years to determine who most deserved the promotion.During the night before the men were to turn in their files,James broke into Don's office and tampered with his files to make it appear that Don was irresponsible.This is an example of:

A) exchange.
B) competition.
C) conflict.
D) cooperation.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

?A classmate you know casually offers to type up your essay for you.You don't take her up on the offer,because you wonder what she may be looking for in return.You are reacting based upon:

A) competition.
B) social processes.
C) the norm of reciprocity.
D) conflict.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

People who share a trait,such as being blond,living in the dorm,or playing a sport,are termed a:

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

Question 5

Two or more people who interact on the basis of shared social structure and recognize mutual dependency are called:

A) a group.
B) an aggregate.
C) a category.
D) a bond.

Question 6

When conflict takes place with outsiders:

A) no one ever wins.
B) it creates divisiveness within one's group.
C) it enhances solidarity within one's group.
D) it usually is replaced with competition.

Question 7

William feels out of shape,but when he compares himself to other men his age,he realizes he is in better shape than most.William is making use of a ________ in order to evaluate himself.

A) secondary group
B) reference group
C) primary group
D) category

Question 8

The expectation that people will return favors and strive to maintain a balance of obligation in social relationships is called:

A) the norm of reciprocity.
B) the norm of unending service.
C) tenure.
D) cooperation.

Question 9

A struggle over scarce resources that is not regulated by shared rules is called:

A) exchange.
B) competition.
C) conflict.
D) cooperation.

Question 10

Exchange,cooperation,and competition are all examples of:

A) norms of reciprocity.
B) conflict resolution.
C) social processes.
D) voluntary associations.

Question 11

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

A) bald-headed men
B) people at a baseball game at Fenway Park
C) people at the mall
D) the sociology faculty at your school

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a potential result from competition?

A) It may stimulate achievement.
B) It may increase personal stress.
C) It may reduce cooperation.
D) It may ensure equitable rewards.

Question 13

Almost all voluntary relationships are entered into as situations of:

A) exchange.
B) competition.
C) conflict.
D) cooperation.

Question 14

Which of these is NOT one of the social processes discussed in the text?

A) collaboration
B) exchange
C) conflict
D) competition

Question 15

An exchange relationship persists only:

A) if the rewards to both are equal.
B) if each party to the interaction is getting something out of it.
C) if both parties believe they are getting more than the other.
D) between people with primary bonds.

Question 16

Interaction that occurs when people work together to achieve shared goals is called:

A) exchange.
B) competition.
C) conflict.
D) cooperation.

Question 17

The factor that distinguishes competition from conflict is:

A) the regulation of interaction by shared rules within competition.
B) inequality between the two individuals or groups interacting.
C) conflict is between individuals and competition between groups.
D) conflict produces solidarity between the competing groups.

Question 18

Which of the following is a married couple LEAST likely to fight over if they want to stay married?

A) the remote control
B) finances
C) what's for dinner
D) their children's affection

Question 19

One good way to sum up the concept of the norm of reciprocity might be the old saying:

A) "You can't teach an old dog new tricks."
B) "A stitch in time saves nine."
C) "There is no such thing as a free lunch."
D) "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."

Question 20

A struggle over scarce resources that is regulated by shared rules is called:

A) exchange.
B) competition.
C) conflict.
D) cooperation.

Question 21

Intimate,face-to-face interactions are typical of:

A) primary groups.
B) secondary groups.
C) tertiary groups.
D) bureaucracies.

Question 22

Some sociologists fear that the shift from primary groups to more secondary groups in society is having the effect of weakening:

A) social institutions.
B) bureaucracies.
C) social control.
D) efficiency.

Question 23

Sociologist Jennifer Lundquist found that African American women were more satisfied with military life than were white men.Lundquist concludes this is because their level of satisfaction is largely dependent on:

A) comparing their situation relative to that of others within the military.
B) how well the women were treated compared to men.
C) the difference between how they were treated in the military and civilian life.
D) the occupational training programs open to each group.

Question 24

How big is the smallest possible group?

A) one person
B) two people
C) three people
D) There is no real answer to this, because it is based upon how the people interact with one another.

Question 25

Activities that provide integration and emotional support are fulfilling:

A) instrumental needs.
B) expressive needs.
C) secondary needs.
D) informal needs.

Question 26

Groups that are formal,large,and impersonal are called:

A) primary groups.
B) secondary groups.
C) tertiary groups.
D) bureaucracies.

Question 27

Even when a person has everything they need,if they compare themselves to others who have more they may still feel unhappy and dissatisfied.This situation is known as:

A) reference overload
B) invidious envy
C) relative deprivation
D) approach-avoidance

Question 28

Expressive needs:

A) are task-oriented.
B) are needs for integration and emotional support.
C) are the result of comparisons to reference groups.
D) occur only in secondary groups.

Question 29

From society's point of view,the major function of secondary groups is to:

A) act as agents of social control.
B) provide us with a social network to call on for social activities.
C) accomplish instrumental tasks.
D) provide us with financial assistance.

Question 30

From the point of view of society,primary groups serve:

A) as agents of social control.
B) to accomplish specific tasks like building a house.
C) to provide emotional support and a sense of belonging.
D) as comparison groups for members of society.

Question 31

Which of the following is NOT true about dyads?

A) They can be especially strong.
B) They can be very fragile.
C) They depend on intense focus on the other person.
D) They exist separately from other relationships.

Question 32

As society has become more industrialized:

A) we have fewer instrumental needs.
B) more of our instrumental needs are the obligation of primary groups.
C) we have fewer expressive needs.
D) more of our instrumental needs are the obligation of secondary groups.

Question 33

Which of the following is NOT a reason that relationships in triads are less intimate than in dyads?

A) One person inevitably tries to break free from the group.
B) One member may try to create conflict between the other two members.
C) Relationships tend to be asymmetrical.
D) There is less need to keep all members satisfied.

Question 34

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

A) your family
B) a group of three close friends who live together
C) an introductory sociology class with 300 students
D) people with red hair

Question 35

Which of the following is the best example of fulfilling an instrumental need?

A) building a house
B) comforting a child who has fallen down and scraped her knee
C) listening to a friend and giving advice
D) listening to your favorite CD

Question 36

In preindustrial societies:

A) there were few secondary groups.
B) there were few primary groups.
C) the number of secondary and primary groups was about equal.
D) there were no groups.

Question 37

Carla wants to join a sorority.She begins to observe and imitate the way members of that sorority dress,do their hair,and behave.The sorority is Carla's:

A) primary group.
B) triad.
C) reference group.
D) secondary group.

Question 38

Which of the following is the best example of fulfillment of an expressive need?

A) a mother changing a baby's diaper
B) a mother comforting her teen daughter
C) a group of friends painting a mural
D) members of an organization collecting donations for the homeless

Question 39

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

A) this sociology classroom
B) this university
C) Joe, Bill, and Tom-college roommates for the past 3 years
D) the faculty at this university

Question 40

Research by Jerolmack found that elderly working-class Italian men were bonding with young Hispanic and African American men through pigeon flying because:

A) young Italian men didn't want to fly pigeons anymore.
B) Hispanics and African Americans also had a strong history of pigeon flying.
C) younger Italians moved away from the cities to the suburbs.
D) Hispanic and African American men helped the older Italians to fulfill community service obligations.

Question 41

The experiments conducted by Stanley Milgram investigated the degree to which people will follow orders,even if they believe they are causing harm to someone.Milgram found that:

A) as many as two-thirds of the subjects following instructions administered what were marked as dangerous electrical shocks.
B) when the electrical shocks were noted as potentially dangerous, the majority of the subjects refused to administer them.
C) there was complete conformity to the directions to administer potentially harmful shocks to others.
D) when the "student" in the experiment screamed in pain, the subjects refused to administer any more shocks.

Question 42

In general,it appears that when most small groups make decisions,the members:

A) each try to exert their own influence over the decision making process.
B) prefer to have the majority rule.
C) strive to reach a consensus.
D) prefer the quickest route to a decision.

Question 43

Milgram found that conformity with directions to administer harmful shocks to other people was greatest when:

A) an authority figure was in the room observing.
B) the research subject had to hold the hand of the person receiving the shock.
C) the subject could see the person they were administering the shock to.
D) None of these; there were no variables that influenced the degree of conformity.

Question 44

In your classes,you are most likely to interact with:

A) students who earn the same grades you do.
B) students who seem to have physical characteristics similar to yours.
C) students seated closest to you.
D) students of the opposite sex.

Question 45

The degree of attachment and dependency that members feel to the group is referred to as:

A) social control.
B) cohesion.
C) the circle pattern.
D) cooperation.

Question 46

In the __________ type of communication structure,each participant in the interaction has equal access to the others and an equal ability to become the focus of attention.

A) circle pattern
B) all-channel network
C) wheel pattern
D) free-for-all pattern

Question 47

In the __________ type of communication structure,interaction is reduced as a single individual gains the greatest power in the group.

A) circle pattern
B) all-channel network
C) wheel pattern
D) free-for-all pattern

Question 48

Which of the following is the best example of the wheel pattern of communication?

A) sitting in a circle with other students for a class discussion
B) talking with your friends at a picnic lunch
C) a teacher standing at the front of the classroom and directing interaction
D) a chat group over the web

Question 49

Which of the following communication structures allows the greatest equality of participation?

A) the circle pattern
B) the all-channel network pattern
C) the wheel pattern
D) the free-for-all pattern

Question 50

Which of the following has been found to contribute to cohesion among groups?

A) larger size, which creates greater stability
B) infrequent interaction because people are less likely to get into disagreements
C) a clear distinction between insiders and outsiders
D) members with different characteristics that complement each other

Question 51

With each increase in the size of a group:

A) people feel more comfortable with voicing their opinion.
B) the group has fewer options for problem solving.
C) membership in the group may become less satisfying personally.
D) there is very little impact on the interaction and experiences of the members.

Question 52

A risky shift occurs when:

A) a group reaches consensus on a conservative position.
B) pressures within a group are so strong that they stifle critical thinking.
C) a group reaches consensus on an extreme position.
D) a persistent minority group forces the majority to consider their objections.

Question 53

Which of the following marriages is likely to be the most cohesive?

A) Bob and Mary (married 28 years) both grew up in small, rural towns in the South and are both Baptist.
B) Tom and June are a dual-career couple. Tom lives in Los Angeles and Mary lives in Boston, so they only see each other once every few months.
C) Mark and Lilly who have been married for only 3 months. Mark is Jewish and grew up in New York City. Lilly is Catholic and grew up in a small Texas town.
D) It is impossible to say because there really hasn't been any research on the subject of cohesiveness.

Question 54

Groups may make extensive claims and demands on individual members because:

A) individuals are generally uncomfortable making decisions on their own.
B) group members feel coerced to conform.
C) individuals feel that their happiness or welfare is dependent upon the group.
D) social control is usually completely absent in small groups.

Question 55

The most powerful method a group has to ensure that individuals go along with the group's opinions,even if they don't agree,is:

A) ridicule.
B) expulsion from the group.
C) fear of embarrassment.
D) lack of certainty about one's position.

Question 56

In a small group,members go along with the norms and expectations of the group because:

A) they are in agreement with them.
B) they are uncertain of their own knowledge or views.
C) they fear rejection or ridicule.
D) All of these are reasons that members of small groups conform to the group norms.

Question 57

The __________ pattern of communication reduces interaction,but doesn't concentrate power over the group into any one person's hands.

A) all-channel network
B) circle
C) wheel
D) pivotal

Question 58

In their research on conformity in wine tasting,Willer,Kuwabara,and Macy found that when confederates in their experiment rated one of two identical wines as superior to the other:

A) over half of the subjects agreed with them.
B) most of the subjects disagreed.
C) most of the subjects had no opinion.
D) three-quarters of the subjects disagreed with them.

Question 59

What effect does the adoption of the majority rule policy typically have on groups?

A) It generally makes people happier and increases cohesiveness.
B) It reduces cohesiveness.
C) It reduces conflict between the members.
D) It usually doesn't have any effect on the group.

Question 60

The text uses the term _________ for the phenomenon in small groups whereby the members' opinions/positions tend to become more similar over time.

A) severance
B) apportionment stereotype
C) choice shifts
D) persistent nemesis

Question 61

Voluntary associations are:

A) nonprofit organizations designed to give individuals an opportunity to pursue their shared interests collectively.
B) one-on-one relationships that a person chooses to have (like a friend).
C) organizations that provide volunteers who provide help to others.
D) no longer in existence.

Question 62

How does gender affect the strong ties that people have?

A) Women have fewer strong ties than men.
B) Women have more strong ties than men.
C) Men are more likely to draw from their kin group to establish strong ties.
D) Gender does not affect the number of strong ties reported.

Question 63

Large,formal organizations with complex status networks are called:

A) complex organizations.
B) voluntary associations.
C) primary group networks.
D) communities.

Question 64

Studies have documented that people who participate in voluntary associations:

A) report that they are more stressed out than those who do not.
B) report greater life satisfaction than those who do not.
C) tend to have lower life expectancies.
D) tend to have low self-esteem than those who do not.

Question 65

What is the difference between ties and groups?

A) Strong and weak ties apply to the group, while primary and secondary apply to the relationships themselves.
B) Strong and weak ties apply to one-to-one relationships, while primary and secondary apply to the group itself.
C) There is no difference between the concepts of ties and groups.
D) None of the above explains the difference.

Question 66

The most important factor associated with the number and composition of strong ties a person has is:

A) having children.
B) gender.
C) income.
D) education.

Question 67

A national survey found that ______ college students regularly or occasionally play video games.

A) about one quarter
B) about half
C) about two-thirds
D) all

Question 68

When pressures to agree within a group are so strong that they stifle critical thinking and group members simply hide their real opinions,the group has experienced:

A) groupthink.
B) convergence.
C) choice shift.
D) minority objection.

Question 69

Strong ties in a social network lead to all of the following EXCEPT:

A) lower risks of suicide and depression.
B) better health.
C) increased participation in civic and political issues.
D) bigger family units.

Question 70

When the group reaches a consensus on an extreme position,it is referred to as:

A) tame shift.
B) risky shift.
C) groupthink.
D) minority group shift.

Question 71

Membership in voluntary associations is greatest among people who are:

A) under age 30.
B) well-educated.
C) upper-income.
D) single.

Question 72

A social network includes:

A) only primary groups that provide social support, like our family and friends.
B) only secondary groups, like our co-workers.
C) all the relationships we have.
D) only relationships that are important to the individual.

Question 73

Nonprofit organizations designed to allow individuals an opportunity to pursue their shared interests collectively are known as:

A) bureaucracies.
B) primary groups.
C) voluntary associations.
D) social networks.

Question 74

The people most likely to bully others have:

A) high network centrality.
B) medium network centrality.
C) low network centrality.
D) no network centrality.

Question 75

An individual's total set of relationships is called his/her:

A) social bond.
B) social network.
C) primary group.
D) secondary group.

Question 76

When a group reaches a consensus on a conservative position,it is referred to as:

A) tame shift.
B) risky shift.
C) groupthink.
D) minority group shift.

Question 77

What does civic engagement mean?

A) being engaged to be married and planning a non-religious ceremony
B) running for public office
C) being involved in the broader society
D) having a lot of friends in the community

Question 78

Sociologist Diane Vaughan investigated the tragedy of the 1986 Challenger explosion and found that engineers suspected damage to the O-rings,but convinced each other the O-rings would not fail.This is an example of:

A) groupthink.
B) tame shift.
C) the minority report.
D) risky shift.

Question 79

According to sociologists,a strong community is characterized by:

A) an extensive infrastructure.
B) a large tax base.
C) few but strong ties between the residents.
D) dense, cross-cutting social networks.

Question 80

Online networks can generally be thought of as:

A) generating weak ties.
B) generating strong ties.
C) decreasing social networks.
D) generating weak ties that may develop into strong ties.