Deck 3: Social Interaction, Groups, and Social Structure

Question 1

Which social scientist created a simulation of prison conditions that illustrated the relationship between social structure and social interaction?

A) Erving Goffman
B) Philip Zimbardo
C) Raymond Mack
D) Gary Huang

Answer 1

Philip Zimbardo

Question 2

The analysis of how the "definition of the situation" can mold the thinking and personality of the individual is associated with the

A) functionalist perspective.
B) conflict perspective.
C) interactionist perspective.
D) feminist perspective.

Answer 2

interactionist perspective.

Question 3

Firas, Randy, and Teresa are science majors, and when they graduate from college, they find jobs as a nurse, a midwife, and a hospital administrator, respectively. These new positions are examples of

A) ascribed status.
B) social roles.
C) achieved status.
D) social networks.

Answer 3

achieved status.

Question 4

Which of the following is an ascribed status?

A) a major league baseball player
B) a corporation president
C) a South African
D) all of these

Question 5

Everett Hughes' studies of social structure focused on which concept?

A) master status
B) ascribed status
C) achieved status
D) status exit

Question 6

Mary is 5' 3" tall, a field hockey player who sees little playing time, is 21-years-old, and is African American. Which one of her characteristics is most likely her master status?

A) her height
B) her field hockey team membership
C) her age
D) her African American heritage

Question 7

A woman in her mid-30s has enrolled in a local community college to earn a degree in horticulture. The night before her first major course examination she is asked by her boss to work several additional hours because they have just received a major order that needs to be processed immediately. This student is experiencing

A) role reversal.
B) role conflict.
C) role exit.
D) status incompatibility.

Question 8

In sociology, a group is any number of people

A) with similar norms, values, and expectations who regularly and consciously interact.
B) who happen to be together in the same place (e.g., passengers).
C) who share a common feature (e.g., hair color) but do not interact.
D) all of these

Question 9

Which one of the following is an example of a group?

A) the members of your sociology class
B) the people who live in the community in which your college is located
C) the members of your college
D) all of these

Question 10

We seek out groups to

A) establish friendships.
B) accomplish certain goals.
C) fulfill social roles that we have acquired.
D) all of these

Question 11

You are taking a sociology class from Dr. Jones at your local community college. Which of the following are you most likely to consider an out-group?

A) the members of Dr. Smith's sociology class
B) the students at the local four-year state school
C) the clique of students in the front of your classroom who all attended high school together and now hang out with one another after class
D) the people in the class who are from your old high school

Question 12

Which sociological perspective would be most likely to emphasize that "we" and "they" feelings have the positive aspect of promoting in-group solidarity and a sense of belonging?

A) functionalist perspective
B) conflict perspective
C) interactionist perspective
D) feminist perspective

Question 13

Social networks

A) may constrain individuals by limiting their range of interaction.
B) may empower people by making available vast resources.
C) constrain and empower people.
D) none of these

Question 14

Members of prestigious law firms often assist their children in obtaining jobs in other law firms or corporations by calling their friends and associates and asking for a favor. This example of networking helps the children of wealthy families maintain the family's high social status. The example best illustrates which sociological perspective?

A) functionalist perspective
B) conflict perspective
C) interactionist perspective
D) global perspective

Question 15

The concepts Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft were introduced to sociology by

A) Ferdinand Tö nnies.
B) É mile Durkheim.
C) Jonathan Kozol.
D) William I. Thomas.

Question 16

In a small town in the Midwest, children all attend the same school and most of the community members attend the same church. Everyone in this community knows everyone else, and they have shared numerous experiences with one another. This community is characterized by

A) Gesellschaft relationships.
B) organic solidarity.
C) mechanical solidarity.
D) Gemeinschaft relationships.

Question 17

Today Steve went into a grocery store where a stranger checked out his purchases and another stranger bagged his groceries. Then he went to Wendy's and purchased a hamburger from another stranger, and on his way home another stranger changed the oil in his car. These experiences are all characteristic of

A) Gesellschaft relationships.
B) organic solidarity.
C) mechanical solidarity.
D) Gemeinschaft relationships.

Question 18

Long-term trends in societies resulting from the interplay of continuity, innovation, and selection are referred to as

A) postmodern society.
B) negotiated order.
C) industrial society.
D) sociocultural evolution.

Question 19

Daniel Bell views post-industrial societies as being positive because he believes they are characterized by interest groups concerned with such national issues as health, education, and the environment working for the common good. Bell's view represents which sociological perspective?

A) functionalist perspective
B) conflict perspective
C) interactionist perspective
D) feminist perspective

Question 20

Which one of the following is not a characteristic of bureaucracies, according to Max Weber?

A) goal displacement
B) trained incapacity
C) democracy
D) the Peter Principle

Question 21

A woman and her two children walk into a homeless shelter. It is apparent they are hungry, dirty, and the children are crying. The shelter attendant refuses them admittance, although there is ample room in the shelter, because the mother does not have the proper identification card. This is an example of

A) goal displacement.
B) goal multiplication.
C) trained incapacity.
D) hierarchy of authority.

Question 22

The ability to define social reality reflects a group's power within a society.

Question 23

The Gesellschaft places a greater emphasis on ascribed statuses than a Gemeinschaft.

Question 24

Formal organizations began to emerge as contemporary societies shifted to more advanced forms or technology and their social structures became more complex.

Question 25

According to Max Weber, bureaucracies would be very similar in efficiency to that of family-run businesses.

Question 26

One of the dysfunctions of the "hierarchy of authority" that is characteristic of bureaucracies is that it leads to goal displacement.

Question 27

A negative consequence of the written rules and regulations of a bureaucracy is that they contribute to feelings of alienation.

Question 28

Define the differences between ascribed and achieved statuses and give examples to support your answer.

Question 29

Define the concepts in-groups, out-groups and reference groups, and describe the role of each type of group. Give examples to illustrate your answer.

Question 30

Describe sociologist Gerhard Lenski's stages of sociocultural evolution, and how his view differs from that of Ferdinand Tonnies's Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft.

Question 31

Describe the various components of a bureaucracy as suggested by Max Weber. How did Weber perceive the efficiency of bureaucracies?

Question 32

Define the differences in the scientific management and the human relations approach to organizational functions. Which approach do you think is more effective?