Deck 2: Studying Marriages and Families

Question 1

The research method that is most popular in marriage and family studies is the

A) interview method.
B) survey method.
C) clinical experiment method.
D) covert observation method.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Dr. Walker believes that life involves discord and competition. Dr. Walker is a _____ theorist.

A) social exchange
B) structural functionalism
C) conflict
D) family systems

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following is not a macro-level theory?

A) Structural functionalism
B) Conflict theory
C) Family ecology theory
D) Family systems theory

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Social exchange theory has been criticized for

A) assuming that we are all rational, calculating individuals.
B) assuming that we are all irrational individuals.
C) not recognizing that exchanges can be cooperative
D) not recognizing that exchanges can be competitive.

Question 5

Which of the following is not a true statement regarding social exchange theory?

A) We never measure our actions and relationships.
B) We use a cost-benefit analysis in our relationships.
C) Exchanges between people have to balance out or the relationship is likely to end.
D) Cooperation is necessary for stability.

Question 6

The portrayal of family life that results from soap opera families and daytime talk shows is

A) realistic and highly negative.
B) realistic and highly positive.
C) unrealistic and highly negative.
D) unrealistic and highly positive.

Question 7

Conflict theory assumes that

A) differences lead to conflict.
B) only certain people in the family have power.
C) conflict is abnormal.
D) money is the universal source of power in the family.

Question 8

Defining the family as inherently weak and prone to disagreement at all times is critical to conflict theory.

Question 9

Conflict theory has been criticized for

A) assuming behavior is characterized by self-sacrifice.
B) assuming behavior is characterized by cooperation.
C) putting too much emphasis on the power of love.
D) assuming that differences lead to conflict.

Question 10

When they promise participants either anonymity or confidentiality, researchers are protecting

A) data.
B) the privacy and safety of participants.
C) guidelines.
D) opinions.

Question 11

Case studies and in-depth interviews are examples of

A) qualitative research.
B) quantitative research.
C) secondary data analysis.
D) triangulation.

Question 12

Grounded theory is inductive.

Question 13

The primary feminist theory goal is to

A) get equal pay for equal work within the household.
B) minimize the contributions of men in family systems and create female-centered families.
C) raise society's level of awareness regarding the oppression of women and all other disadvantaged groups.
D) raise awareness regarding the oppression of women as members of all families and households.

Question 14

Symbolic interactionists study how the sense of self is maintained in the process of acquiring social roles.

Question 15

What method of research deals with large amounts of information that is analyzed and presented statistically?

A) Qualitative
B) Comparative
C) Quantitative
D) Meta-study

Question 16

A scientist wants to conduct research to determine if change in a certain variable causes predicable change in another variable. Which method should the scientist use?

A) Clinical
B) Correlational
C) Survey
D) Experimental

Question 17

Family systems theory is a combination of

A) structural functionalism and symbolic interaction theory.
B) structural functionalism and social exchange theory.
C) social exchange theory and symbolic interaction theory.
D) family development theory and structural functionalism.

Question 18

Interviews can be advantageous compared to surveys because they

A) enable cause-and-effect relationships to be fully determined.
B) minimize the effects of bias in interpretation of responses.
C) permit probes of greater depth and can follow paths suggested by the interviewee.
D) elicit more honest responses.

Question 19

Family development theory has been criticized for

A) assuming the sequential processes of intact, nuclear families.
B) placing too much emphasis on diversity.
C) being too complex.
D) ignoring the contribution of children to family processes.

Question 20

Examining the needs a family meets for its individual members is an aspect of

A) conflict theory.
B) structural functionalism.
C) social exchange theory.
D) the feminist perspective.

Question 21

Identify the differences between quantitative and qualitative research methodologies discussed in the text.

Question 22

Exchange theory predicts that we will stay in an unhappy marriage when

A) the costs of leaving are equal to the costs of staying.
B) the costs of leaving are greater than the rewards of leaving and/or the costs of staying.
C) the costs of leaving are equal to the rewards of leaving.
D) none of the above, exchange theory predicts we will always leave an unhappy marriage.

Question 23

The concept of "marital happiness" is transformed from an abstract concept to something measurable, such as "a score of 80 or above on the Spousal Satisfaction Scale" in a process called

A) deductive research.
B) inductive research.
C) conceptualization.
D) operationalization.

Question 24

Maria believes the costs of her marriage exceed her rewards. According to exchange theory, Maria is likely to

A) stay married as long as her husband's costs are greater than his rewards, too.
B) stay married as long as she perceives her rewards are greater than her husband's rewards.
C) get a divorce no matter what.
D) get a divorce if she perceives greater rewards in some alternative and the costs of leaving are not too great.

Question 25

Write an essay discussing families in the media. Include a discussion of how families are portrayed by the media, along with some specific examples. Also address the commonalities among various programs in the advice/information genre and how you can evaluate information the media presents to you.

Question 26

Explain the high rate of divorce in the United States using two different theoretical perspectives discussed in the text.

Question 27

Equity is a key component of ____________ theory.

A) symbolic interaction
B) structural functionalism
C) social exchange
D) family systems

Question 28

Examining how the sense of self is maintained in the process of acquiring social roles is fundamental to

A) social exchange theory.
B) family development theory.
C) symbolic interaction theory.
D) structural functionalism.

Question 29

Compare and contrast the four principal research methods discussed in the text. Describe each method and discuss its major advantages and disadvantages.

Question 30

Kate has not seen or heard from her mother since Hurricane Katrina hit the Louisiana town where her mother lived. She does not know for sure if her mother is dead or alive. Kate feels her mother's psychological presence even though she is not physically with her. Pauline Boss uses the term _____ to describe what Kate is feeling.

A) mental illness
B) delusional affect
C) ambiguous loss
D) trauma-induced psychosis

Question 31

Symbolic interaction theory

A) examines how people interact with each other.
B) looks at how each individual functions within the family unit.
C) examines resources and power.
D) focuses on the material exchange and equity between people who love each other.

Question 32

Secondary data analysis involves interviewing the same person twice before analyzing the data.

Question 33

Structural functionalists believe social stability is in the best interest of society.

Question 34

Discuss how you could study the relationship between level of education of spouses and marital happiness using survey, experimental, and observational research design.

Question 35

Self-help and childrearing books are typically value-free.

Question 36

Social exchange theory addresses equity and fairness.

Question 37

According to __________ theory, when the emotional costs of a relationship outweigh its benefits, we are likely to feel uncomfortable, angry, or distressed.

A) social exchange
B) structural functionalism
C) symbolic interaction
D) family systems

Question 38

Reality television is more representative of familial reality than daytime talk shows.

Question 39

A family systems approach assumes that the family has a structure that can only be seen in its interactions.

Question 40

Experimental research involves isolating a single factor under controlled circumstances to determine its influence.