Question 1

A friendship group isn't an example of a formal organization because:

Accepted Answer

A friendship group is not an example of a formal organization because it typically lacks formal rules, governing structures, and hierarchy. Friends come together voluntarily and maintain their relationships through personal connections, rather than through a structured system of rules and regulations.

Question 2

While the majority of new American business ventures fail,virtually all Amish businesses succeed.What seems to be the secret to the Amish community's success? In your answer,describe some of the ways in which the practices of Amish and non-Amish Americans differ.

Accepted Answer

The answer of While the majority of new American business...

Question 3

Which of the following is true regarding the applicability of network analysis within sociological research?

Accepted Answer

Network analysis can be used in both micro-level and macro-level studies. It is a useful tool for understanding the structures and dynamics of social relationships at various levels of analysis.

Question 4

The flagship university in your state recently completed a new state-of-the-art student center,complete with bowling alleys,fast-food outlets,group study space,and the latest green technology.Shortly after it was finished,almost every other university in your state began clamoring for a new student center,too.How would the theory of institutional isomorphism explain this?

Accepted Answer

The theory of institutional isomorphism suggests that organizations operating in the same environment tend to become more similar over time. In this case, the presence of a state-of-the-art student center at one university may have led other universities to want to adopt similar features in order to remain competitive and meet the expectations of students and other stakeholders. This process of institutional homogenization can help to legitimize organizations and create a shared sense of identity within the field, but it can also limit diversity and creativity.

Question 5

How we feel about ourselves is an inherently social process that stems in part from whom we compare ourselves to.Provide two real-life examples of how reference groups have affected how you feel about yourself (whether fleeting or long-term).In your view,is it possible to develop a sense of self that is free of the influence of reference groups? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How we feel about ourselves is an...

Question 6

Summarize the Solomon Asch experiments.What did the experiments reveal about group conformity? Is it possible for an individual to break free of group influence? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Summarize the Solomon Asch experiments.What did the...

Question 7

A local organization values democracy and diversity and therefore solicits input on every decision it makes and uses recruiting strategies that are likely to attract a wide variety of applicants.These beliefs and behaviors are part of the:

Accepted Answer

Organizational culture refers to the values, beliefs, and behaviors that characterize an organization and guide its practices. The values of democracy and diversity and the practices of soliciting input and using inclusive recruiting strategies reflect the culture of this organization. The other options do not accurately reflect the situation described.

Question 8

The boards of insurance companies frequently have board members who also served on the boards of drug and medical device companies.This is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Interlocking directorates refer to a situation where a member of the board of directors of one company also serves on the board of directors of another company. In this case, board members of insurance companies also serving on the boards of drug and medical device companies is an example of interlocking directorates.

Question 9

Consider this photograph of a dyad.What features of dyads make them the most intimate social relationships? Describe two important features of dyads that change when the group becomes a triad.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Consider this photograph of a dyad.What features...

Question 10

An interlocking directorate is:

Accepted Answer

Interlocking directorate refers to the situation where members of corporate boards sit on the board of directors for multiple companies. This can create potential conflicts of interest and influence over multiple companies.

Question 11

Consider the social network in this image.Where is the weak tie in the diagram (between which two individuals)? How could this weak tie benefit people in the network? Create examples using the names of people in the diagram.In your own words,summarize "the strength of weak ties."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Consider the social network in this image.Where...

Question 12

Why might acquaintances prove to be more important in the job search process than our family and friends (as is argued in the "strength of weak ties" thesis)? In what circumstances is embeddedness more valuable to a person than weak ties?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why might acquaintances prove to be more...

Question 13

C.Wright Mills's term for interlocking directorates is which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Mills coined the term "power elite" to describe the interlocking relationships between the corporate, political, and military sectors of society. The interlocking directorates are one manifestation of this power elite, where individuals sit on the boards of multiple companies, creating a network of shared interests and power.

Question 14

Any social network that is defined by a common purpose and that has a boundary between its members and the rest of the social world is known within sociology as a(n):

Accepted Answer

The definition given in the question matches with the concept of an organization within sociology. An organization is defined as a social network that has a common purpose and a boundary between members and non-members. Examples of organizations can be a business, a non-profit organization, or a religious group.

Question 15

When Peter Bearman and his colleagues analyzed the sexual habits of teenagers,they found that a person does not date the ex of the person's ex's boyfriend or girlfriend.This "no cycles of four" rule seems to operate:

Accepted Answer

The "no cycles of four" rule operates without anyone being consciously aware of it.

Question 16

Linda is a U.S.lawyer devoted to improving privacy rights in the digital age.According to the "right to be forgotten," predict the most likely outcome of her work:

Accepted Answer

The right to be forgotten raises complex issues surrounding the balance between free speech and privacy rights. It is likely that tensions between these two rights will continue to be debated and negotiated for a long time, without a clear resolution. While it is possible that satisfactory privacy laws will be passed in the future, it is unlikely to happen in the "near future." The United States is also unlikely to adopt the European Commission's policies on the right to be forgotten, as there are significant differences in the legal frameworks of the two regions. Similarly, while some individuals may choose to move to Europe for greater privacy protections, this is not a likely outcome for most U.S. citizens.

Question 17

Compare and contrast the terms organizational culture and organizational structure.Discuss two points of similarity (compare)and two points of difference (contrast).

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast the terms organizational culture...

Question 18

A process by which organizations face the same conditions,and ultimately tend to end up like each other,is known as:

Accepted Answer

Isomorphism is the process by which organizations face similar external pressures, leading to the adoption of similar structures, processes, and practices, ultimately resulting in similar outcomes or ending up like each other. This can be due to factors such as competition, regulatory pressure, and the influence of professional networks.

Question 19

When a single parent marries (or remarries),issues such as divided loyalties,the right to discipline,favoritism,and financial responsibility can prove to be volatile.Peggy,a single mom who has had sole custody of her 12-year-old daughter Sarah for ten years,recently married Tom.Tom has never been married and doesn't have any children.Provide examples of each of the three basic forms of relations (mediator,tertius gaudens,and divide et impera)that could emerge in this newly formed triad.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When a single parent marries (or remarries),issues...

Quiz 5: Groups and Networks