Question 1

How many hours per year does the average American spend interacting with the mass media?

Accepted Answer

According to a survey conducted by Nielsen in 2018, the average American adult spends 11 hours and 6 minutes per day interacting with media (including TV, radio, social media, and other digital devices). Multiplying this by 365 days in a year gives us a total of approximately 4,049 hours per year. Therefore, option B (3,649) is the closest approximation to the average number of hours per year.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT one of the functions of the mass media according to functionalists?

Accepted Answer

Functionalists do not see generating conflict as a function of the mass media. Instead, they focus on the media's role in coordinating and integrating society, socializing individuals, providing entertainment, and serving as a mechanism of social control. Generating conflict is seen as a potential negative consequence of media use, rather than a deliberate function.

Question 3

Television,movies,magazines,and other forms of the mass media give people pleasure,relaxation,and momentary escape from the tension,routine,and tedium of everyday life.This is which function of the mass media?

Accepted Answer

The function described in the statement is entertainment, which is best represented by option D.

Question 4

Many people criticize daytime talk shows such as the Jerry Springer show because they are outlandish.However,from a sociological point of view,even if they are eccentric they perform a useful function.When television audiences get upset about marital infidelities and other outrages,these programs are:

Accepted Answer

Daytime talk shows like the Jerry Springer show, despite being outlandish, act as agents of social control and reinforce traditional norms by highlighting behaviors that deviate from societal expectations, thereby indirectly affirming what is considered acceptable or normal.

Question 5

About what percentage of their time do Americans spend interacting with the mass media?

Accepted Answer

Americans spend about 60% of their time interacting with the mass media, reflecting the significant role that television, internet, and other forms of media play in daily life.

Question 6

Families have relinquished to the mass media their formerly nearly exclusive responsibility for transmitting norms,values and culture.When the mass media takes on this process,it is engaged in:

Accepted Answer

Socialization is the process by which individuals learn the norms, values, and culture of their society. In the modern era, the mass media has become a significant agent of socialization, as families have relinquished much of their traditional responsibility for this process. The mass media transmits cultural messages and influences how individuals perceive and understand the world around them.

Question 7

According to Georg Hegel,the daily ritual of reading the newspaper performs what function?

Accepted Answer

According to Georg Hegel, the daily ritual of reading the newspaper performs the function of uniting people. Newspapers provide a shared experience that can bridge differences and create a sense of community among readers.

Question 8

The sources of mass media are embedded in:

Accepted Answer

Mass media sources are embedded in the religious, political, and economic needs of society, as they play a crucial role in disseminating information, shaping public opinion, and reflecting societal values and needs in these areas.

Question 9

As societies develop they become larger and more complex.The number of institutions and roles proliferate.Due to the sheer scale of the society,face-to-face interaction becomes less viable as a means of communication.This leads to:

Accepted Answer

As societies become larger and more complex, face-to-face interaction becomes less viable as a means of communication. This leads to the need for new means of coordinating the operation of society. Therefore, D - the need for new means of coordinating the operation of society - is the best choice. Choices A, B, C, and E are not directly related to the consequences of the increasing scale and complexity of society.

Question 10

The need for a literate workforce and means of business communication stimulated:

Accepted Answer

The need for a literate workforce and means of business communication led to the proliferation of mass media, as it facilitated the dissemination of information and communication on a large scale.

Question 11

Which approach criticizes functionalism for exaggerating the degree to which the mass media serve the interests of the entire society?

Accepted Answer

Conflict theory criticizes functionalism for exaggerating the degree to which the mass media serve the interests of the entire society. According to conflict theory, the mass media serve the interests of those who hold power and control resources, and it reproduces and reinforces social inequalities.

Question 12

The Mass media helps ensure conformity through news broadcasts,television dramas,and programs such as Cops that devote much attention to crime,criminals,and the police.This is part of what function of the mass media?

Accepted Answer

Social control refers to the mass media's ability to shape the values, beliefs, and behaviors of society as a whole, encouraging conformity to social norms and punishing deviance. The focus on crime and punishment in news broadcasts and television programs serves as a form of social control by portraying certain behaviors as unacceptable and promoting the role of law enforcement in maintaining order.

Question 13

Print,radio,television,and other communications technologies compose:

Accepted Answer

Mass media refers to any communication technology that is capable of reaching a large audience, including print, radio, television, and other forms of media. Mass media plays a significant role in shaping public opinion, disseminating information, and influencing societal norms and values.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT one of the main factors that gave rise to the mass media?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is NOT one...

Question 15

By exposing deviants and showcasing the police and model citizens,the mass media reinforce ideas about what kind of people deserve punishment and what kind of people deserve rewards.In this way the mass media:

Accepted Answer

The mass media's reinforcement of ideas about deserving punishment and rewards reproduces the moral order by promoting certain behaviors and values while discouraging others. This helps to maintain social order and control.

Question 16

Who said that the mass media are extensions of the human body and mind?

Accepted Answer

Marshall McLuhan, a media theorist, said that "the mass media are extensions of the human body and mind" in his book "Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man" (1964).

Question 17

Communication that occurs via the mass media is usually:

Accepted Answer

Communication through mass media is usually one-way because the sender (media) transmits the message to a large number of receivers (audience) who do not have the chance to respond or give feedback to the sender. Examples of mass media are television, radio, newspapers, and magazines.

Question 18

The idea that the mass media favors the interests of dominant classes and political groups is associated with which theory of media effects?

Accepted Answer

The idea that the mass media favors the interests of dominant classes and political groups is associated with conflict theory, which suggests that society is characterized by conflict between different social groups, including economic and political ones. Conflict theorists argue that the media serves the interests of those in power and reproduces their ideologies and values, thereby maintaining their dominance over the rest of society.

Question 19

According to functionalists,the significance of the mass media is that it is an important:

Accepted Answer

Functionalists argue that the mass media serves multiple important functions in society. It is a means of social control, as it helps regulate behavior and maintain social order. It is also a coordination mechanism, as it facilitates communication and the sharing of information. Additionally, it serves as an agent of socialization, helping individuals learn and internalize values, beliefs, and norms. Finally, the mass media provides entertainment, which is an important aspect of modern society. Therefore, all of these choices are significant according to functionalists.

Question 20

As late as 1950,the dominant mass medium was:

Accepted Answer

In 1950, television was still relatively new and not as widespread as it is today. The internet and magazines did not exist as mass mediums at that time. While radio was still popular, newspapers were the dominant mass medium in terms of reach and influence.

Quiz 18: The Mass Media