Deck 5: Social Groups and Formal Organizations

Question 1

The most intimate of all groups is the dyad.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

In Professor Jones's social problems course,the students interact freely with one another,think of themselves as "Dr. J's class," and feel they are significant because of their mutual interest in social reform. Which concept BEST describes Dr. Jones's class?

A)aggregate
B)category
C)social frame
D)group

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Leaders tend to be more talkative and express greater determination and self-confidence.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

A classic example of goal displacement is the shift in NATO's mission from protecting Europe against a Soviet invasion to being a rapid response force to fight terrorism.

Question 5

Because primary groups are essential to our emotional well-being,they have been called "the springs of life."

Question 6

No single type of leadership is inherently best,as situations change and different types of leaders are needed.

Question 7

Sociologists generally agree that leaders are born with characteristics that propel them to the forefront of a group.

Question 8

Reference groups are reserved for members of professional networks and are utilized almost exclusively by people with career aspirations.

Question 9

The Asch experiment demonstrated that people will submit to a person in authority,even if ordered to perform tasks against their best judgment.

Question 10

Social networking,by definition,breaks down social inequality and leads to a more egalitarian society,regardless of the culture or the nature of the network.

Question 11

Although larger than primary groups,secondary groups are as informal,personal,and intimate as primary groups.

Question 12

Bureaucracies tend to perpetuate their existence,even after their initial purpose has been fulfilled,through a process called bureaucratic ritualism.

Question 13

A division of labor,written rules,and impersonality are some of the key features common to bureaucracies.

Question 14

When experiencing groupthink,people take on a collective tunnel vision and are convinced there is only one right viewpoint with a single course of action.

Question 15

Because in-groups are an essential part of society,they have virtually no negative consequences.

Question 16

An expressive leader is a task-oriented leader who keeps a group moving towards its goals.

Question 17

According to Marx,alienation refers to a worker's loss of ownership of the product of his or her labor.

Question 18

The U.S. Postal Service is an example of a bureaucracy.

Question 19

As the size of a group decreases,the likelihood for diffusion of responsibility also decreases.

Question 20

When members of an organization are promoted for their accomplishments until they reach their level of incompetence,this is referred to as the Peter principle.

Question 21

A group characterized by intimate,long-term,face-to-face association and cooperation is referred to as a ________.

A)secondary group
B)clique
C)primary group
D)community

Question 22

If a secondary group does not satisfy one's need for intimate association,which of the following is most likely to occur?

A)The individual will cease to exist.
B)The secondary group will break down into primary groups.
C)The secondary group will develop into an out-group.
D)The secondary group will develop into a reference group.

Question 23

Sociologically,what term BEST applies to a group of people who share no common destination taking an elevator from the first floor of a large high rise?

A)a social frame
B)a category
C)an aggregate
D)a clique

Question 24

Because of our sense of belonging and loyalty to in-groups,we often judge our own group's traits as virtues,but view the same traits in other groups as vices. This judgment of superiority is an example of ________.

A)subcultural relativity
B)objectivity
C)a double standard
D)a lack of judgment

Question 25

Samantha works for an organization that is hierarchical and has a division of labor,written rules,communications,and records. This organization's administration treats workers impersonally. Based on these characteristics,we can conclude that Samantha works for a(n)________.

A)nonprofit organization
B)voluntary association
C)bureaucracy
D)oligarchy

Question 26

The McDonaldization of society refers to ________.

A)the perfect world model
B)a comparative society
C)a university system
D)the standardization of everyday life

Question 27

When the former Soviet Union collapsed,NATO forces were no longer needed to protect Europe from a communist invasion. Rather than disband NATO,it was turned into a "rapid response force" to fight terrorism. Sociologists would call this shift in focus an example of ________.

A)the Thomas theorem
B)goal displacement
C)the Peter principle
D)bureaucratic ritualism

Question 28

Which phrase became synonymous with the research Stanley Milgram conducted on "the small world phenomenon"?

A)the world is a stage
B)six degrees of separation
C)society as the sum of its parts
D)situations defined as real are real in their consequences

Question 29

Jane,Mark,Courtney,and Kelly are enrolled in the 8:00 a.m. sociology course at their college. After studying together for the first test,they started sitting together in class and chose to work together on group projects. During spring break,they decided to go on a trip as a group. These four students would be considered members of a(n)________.

A)aggregate
B)reference group
C)clique
D)secondary group

Question 30

In the bureaucratic structure of a medium-sized university,approximately where would one find the instructor for this course,provided that he or she is NOT the chair of the sociology department?

A)at or near the top of the chart
B)in the upper third of the chart
C)in the middle of the chart
D)at or near the bottom of the chart

Question 31

For many college professors,their own teachers served as role models. Kody Scott looked up to older gang members as his idols. In both cases,former teachers and older gang members qualify as being ________.

A)generalized others
B)secondary groups
C)social others
D)reference groups

Question 32

There are New York Yankee fans in every state in America,throughout Canada,and in nations all over the world. Sociologically,which concept BEST describes these fans?

A)They are a group.
B)They are a social group.
C)They are an aggregate.
D)They are a category.

Question 33

Kody is a member of the L.A. Crips. The other gangs in his territory are the Bloods and Satan's Slaves. Kody feels very antagonistic towards the Bloods and the Slaves. For Kody,these two rival gangs would be considered ________.

A)reference groups
B)social networks
C)secondary groups
D)out-groups

Question 34

When criticizing Milgram's experiment on small group phenomenon,Kleinfeld made the analogy that "we live in a world that looks a lot like ________."

A)a tossed salad
B)a bowl of lumpy oatmeal
C)an ice cream sundae
D)a pan of baked lasagna

Question 35

Of the following groups,the ________ plays the MOST significant role in the development of the self.

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

Question 36

Which phrase BEST describes primary groups as Charles Cooley envisioned them?

A)the springs of life
B)the cornerstone of self-development
C)the miracle of society
D)the blessing of friendship

Question 37

________ are the social ties that radiate outward from the self and link people together like a spider's web.

A)Cyber socializations
B)Secondary societies
C)Social networks
D)Electronic communities

Question 38

Which sociologist is given credit for coining the concept of the "McDonaldization of Society"?

A)Jeffrey Reiman
B)Douglas Massey
C)Howard Winet
D)George Ritzer

Question 39

Sociologist Judith Kleinfeld felt Milgram "stacked the deck" in his "small world phenomenon" experiment because ________.

A)he only used men as the target population
B)he violated the ethical standards of research
C)many of his targets and starters shared a common interest
D)most of his sample lived in the same geographic area

Question 40

Milgram's experiment involving the "small world phenomenon" utilized two groups. He referred to these two groups as the ________ and the ________.

A)in-group; out-group
B)starters; targets
C)givers; takers
D)primary; secondary

Question 41

In which group would diffusion of responsibility be the greatest concern?

A)a married couple
B)the graduating class of a large university
C)a football team
D)a basketball team

Question 42

Most major companies sponsor "diversity training" lectures and workshops for their employees. What is the ultimate purpose of these efforts?

A)to stimulate an understanding of cultural differences
B)to professionally develop staff
C)to increase company profits and competitiveness
D)to emphasize the qualities that will lead to a worker's success

Question 43

Nick was a promising caseworker for an social services agency. After earning several lower-level promotions,he was appointed to a supervisory position. Supervisory work did not mix well with Nick's abilities and he fell into a professional rut. This is an example of the ________.

A)Kanter syndrome
B)Weber effect
C)Peter principle
D)Ouchi theorem

Question 44

Patti and her colleagues often gather in the employee lunch room to talk about their families. This is an example of __________.

A)protesting change
B)group dissolution
C)bureaucratic displacement
D)resisting alienation

Question 45

A leader of a group whose responsibility would be to keep the group moving towards its goal is classified as a(n)________ leader.

A)expressive
B)instrumental
C)authoritarian
D)democratic

Question 46

Sam,an aspiring and talented young attorney,has been promoted every year since he joined the law firm of Howard,Howard,and Fine. Unfortunately,Sam feels he cannot handle the responsibilities of his latest promotion. In an effort to keep his newly acquired job title,Sam has begun to take credit for the work done by the employees he supervises. Sam's behavior is an example of ________.

A)the iron law of oligarchy
B)the Ouchi theorem
C)bureaucratic ritualism
D)the Peter principle

Question 47

The university's administration has increased class size without receiving input from the faculty or considering that some courses need to have low enrollments. In view of this,what is the most probable reaction the professors will take to this latest administrative decision?

A)The faculty will call a wildcat strike to protest the insensitivity of the administration.
B)The faculty will stage a "blue flu" and call in sick on the first day of class.
C)More faculty members will feel they have lost ownership of their classes and are just "employees."
D)More faculty members will apply to be administrators to ensure this type of action will not be repeated.

Question 48

Groups in which members take personal responsibility and work at a steady pace,even without supervision,are most likely headed by which classification of leader?

A)laissez-faire leader
B)authoritative leader
C)dictatorial leader
D)democratic leader

Question 49

A phenomenon of group dynamics that results in a decrease in one's willingness to help others as the size of the group increases is referred to as ________.

A)diffusion of responsibility
B)small group phenomenon
C)the Hawthorne Effect
D)Klinefelter's syndrome

Question 50

As diversity in the workplace continues to increase,more than half of U.S. workers include which three groups?

A)older adults,minorities,and women
B)minorities,immigrants,and women
C)immigrants,the Amish,and older adults
D)working class,homosexuals,and young adults

Question 51

In which group would there be the greatest number of relationships?

A)a traditional marriage
B)a panel of three
C)the starting five on a basketball team
D)the starting nine on a baseball team

Question 52

According to Rosabeth Moss Kanter,why do "hidden values" exist in an organization?

A)to assist women and minorities in gaining promotions
B)to help the organization be successful
C)as a means to promote teamwork
D)as self-fulfilling stereotypes to direct the organization

Question 53

A(n)________ leadership style has the tendency to encourage either aggressive or apathetic behavior among group members with aggressive members growing increasingly hostile toward their leader.

A)authoritarian
B)democratic
C)laissez-faire
D)expressive

Question 54

How groups influence individuals and how individuals influence groups is referred to as ________.

A)the Hawthorne Effect
B)social solidarity
C)group dynamics
D)small group phenomenon

Question 55

According to Georg Simmel,which of the following groups is the MOST unstable?

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

Question 56

Tom works as an agent for a large insurance company. At his work station,he has taped pictures of his wife and granddaughter and of last year's Caribbean vacation. Sociologists would see these pictures as an attempt by Tom to ________.

A)resist alienation
B)bond with his supervisor,who is also a grandparent
C)promote his "all-American" status to his colleagues
D)simply decorate his office

Question 57

__________ refer(s)to preconceived ideas of what someone is like- that in turn leads the person to behave in ways that match them.

A)The Peter principle
B)Humanizing
C)Emotional integrations
D)Self-fulfilling stereotypes

Question 58

With respect to group dynamics,what is the defining characteristic of a small group?

A)All members of the group can interact directly with one another.
B)All members of the group are intimately involved with one another.
C)It is composed of no more than three members.
D)The group is stable.

Question 59

How does the structure and function of groups change as they grow in size?

A)Members tend to form more informal relationships.
B)Group members become more active in the decision-making process.
C)Group members feel more strongly bonded to each other.
D)Groups tend to develop a more formal social structure.

Question 60

In any group of three members,two of the three may have a tendency to alienate the third member and dominate the decision making for the group the trio represents. When this occurs,what term BEST applies to the two unified members?

A)an aggregate
B)an oligarchy
C)an aristocracy
D)a coalition

Question 61

The concept of "groupthink" was developed by ________.

A)Solomon Asch
B)Stanley Milgram
C)Irving Janis
D)Georg Simmel

Question 62

What did Solomon Asch's experiment on group conformity demonstrate?

A)Because of group pressure,most people are willing to say things they know are not true.
B)Americans are highly individualistic and reluctant to conform to group pressure.
C)Women are more susceptible to group pressure than men.
D)Younger people are more susceptible to group pressure than older adults.

Question 63

What is the "small world phenomenon"?

Question 64

Why do bureaucracies practice goal displacement?

Question 65

What did George Ritzer mean when he coined the phrase the "McDonaldization of society"?

Question 66

What are some of the dysfunctions of an in-group?

Question 67

Which group is MOST notable for its lack of achievement and effectiveness in decision making?

A)expressive
B)authoritarian
C)democratic
D)laissez-faire

Question 68

What causes bureaucratic alienation?

Question 69

Why are secondary groups essential to the functioning of society?

Question 70

In group decision making,a form of tunnel vision that develops in which there is only one "right" viewpoint and suggested alternatives are perceived as signs of disloyalty is called ________.

A)brainwashing
B)groupthink
C)mental programming
D)group polarization

Question 71

What did Stanley Milgram's teacher-learner experiment demonstrate?

A)A substantial number of people will inflict pain on others if ordered to do so by a person in a position of authority.
B)Most people conform to social norms,even when told to deviate from them by persons in authority.
C)Group conformity is the most important social relationship people seek to achieve.
D)Individualism is among the most cherished personal qualities one can possess.

Question 72

Who conducted the classic experiment addressing the power of peer pressure that included six stooges and one actual test subject viewing cards with lines of varying length?

A)Stanley Milgram
B)Robert Merton
C)Philip Zimbardo
D)Solomon Asch

Question 73

How would an organization minimize the occurrence of groupthink?

A)using a highly authoritative leader
B)hiring the most intelligent applicants
C)giving free rein to diverse opinions
D)submitting to public review and scrutiny

Question 74

How do social networks perpetuate inequality?

Question 75

What is the difference between a primary and secondary group?

Question 76

Different situations require that different styles of leadership be used to meet the primary goals of the group. Imagine a tour group that is lost in the desert. Which type of leadership would be BEST for the tour guide to adopt?

A)democratic leader
B)authoritarian leader
C)laissez-faire leader
D)expressive leader

Question 77

What is the difference between a social network and a clique?

Question 78

All of the following historical situations involved elements of groupthink,as mentioned in the text,EXCEPT for which one?

A)the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor
B)the Normandy Invasion (D-Day)
C)the Columbia space shuttle disaster of 2003
D)the North Vietnamese military during the Vietnam War

Question 79

Why don't aggregates and categories qualify as social groups?

Question 80

What are the five characteristics of bureaucracies as identified by Weber?