Question 1

Total institutions, such as boot camps, prisons, and some mental hospitals, are examples of ____________ organizations.

Accepted Answer

Coercive organizations use force or threat of force to control their members, such as in the case of boot camps, prisons, and some mental hospitals. Normative organizations rely on shared values and a sense of belonging to motivate their members, totalitarian organizations seek to control every aspect of an individual's life, and utilitarian organizations are focused on achieving specific goals or outcomes.

Question 2

Political parties, ecological activist groups, religious organizations, parent-teacher associations, and college sororities and fraternities are examples of____________  organizations.

Accepted Answer

These types of organizations are primarily formed around shared values, beliefs, and goals rather than material benefits (utilitarian) or forced membership (coercive or totalitarian). Examples listed in the question all have a strong normative component to their membership.

Question 3

Weber's term ____________ refers to the process by which traditional informal and spontaneous methods of social organization are gradually replaced by efficiently administered formal rules and procedures.

Accepted Answer

Weber's term rationalization refers to the process by which traditional informal and spontaneous methods of social organization are gradually replaced by efficiently administered formal rules and procedures.

Question 4

Sociologist Amitai Etzioni classified formal organizations into three categories. Which of these is not one of them?

Accepted Answer

Sociologist Amitai Etzioni classified formal organizations into three categories: normative, coercive, and utilitarian. Totalitarian is not one of the three categories.

Question 5

Most government, business, education, and religious organizations are ____________ in form.

Accepted Answer

Most government, business, education, and religious organizations are bureaucratic in form, meaning they have a hierarchical structure with clear lines of authority, standardized procedures, and a focus on efficiency and control. This is the most common organizational form found in modern society. While some organizations may have democratic or grassroots elements, they still tend to be organized in a bureaucratic way. Human rights are an important concern for many organizations, but they do not determine the organization's structure.

Question 6

Which of these is an example of a utilitarian organization?

Accepted Answer

A high school is a utilitarian organization because it provides education and skills that are necessary for individuals to achieve their goals, such as obtaining a job or furthering their education. Utilitarian organizations are those that people join primarily for material benefits.

Question 7

A(n) ____________ organization is a highly structured secondary group formed for the purpose of achieving specific goals in the most efficient manner.

Accepted Answer

A formal organization is characterized by a clear hierarchy of authority and a set of rules and procedures that dictate how tasks are performed. It is created specifically to achieve certain goals and has a deliberately designed structure to enable it to function as efficiently as possible. Examples of formal organizations include corporations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Traditional organizations, on the other hand, are based on long-standing customs and practices that may not be formally structured or goal-oriented. Secondary and primary groups are not necessarily designed with specific goals in mind and may not have a clear hierarchy or formal rules.

Question 8

In Stanley Milgram's experiments, none of the "teachers" challenged the process before they had applied __________ volts.

Accepted Answer

All of the "teachers" went up to at least 300 volts before any of them challenged the process. Some went up to 450 volts, but the question asks for the point at which they had not yet challenged the process.

Question 9

The leader of a work group has proposed a solution to a problem that some group members believe will have negative results. Instead of discussing their concerns, they do not want to challenge the leader's authority. The result is an unwise decision. The group has experienced____________  .

Accepted Answer

The scenario described is an example of groupthink, which is a phenomenon in which group members prioritize the maintenance of group harmony over critically evaluating potential solutions or ideas. This can lead to risky or flawed decisions being made. In this case, the group members are not challenging the leader's proposal because they do not want to disrupt the group's cohesion or perceived hierarchy, which is indicative of groupthink.

Question 10

____________ is the term for the process by which members of a cohesive group arrive at a decision that many individual members privately believe is unwise.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is the term for the process by which members of a cohesive group arrive at a decision that many individual members privately believe is unwise. This phenomenon occurs when group cohesion and solidarity become more important than critical thinking and evaluation of alternatives. Group members may suppress dissenting opinions and conform to the group's consensus, even if it goes against their personal beliefs or values. As a result, the group may make suboptimal or even disastrous decisions.

Question 11

We voluntarily join ____________ organizations when we want to pursue some common interest or gain personal satisfaction or prestige from being a member.

Accepted Answer

Normative organizations are those that people join voluntarily to pursue a common interest or gain personal satisfaction or prestige, unlike coercive or utilitarian organizations, which people often join for different reasons such as necessity or as a requirement. Totalitarian is not a type of organization in this context.

Question 12

Which of these sociologists applied ideal type analysis and borrowed from the field of economics to study bureaucracies?

Accepted Answer

Max Weber applied ideal type analysis and borrowed from the field of economics to study bureaucracies.

Question 13

Almost ____________ of Stanley Milgram's research subjects went all the way to what could have been a deadly jolt of electricity if the shock generator had been real.

Accepted Answer

In Milgram's famed obedience experiment, 65% of participants were willing to go all the way to 450 volts, which was labeled as a lethal shock. This shows how easily people can be influenced to harm others when placed in certain contexts.

Question 14

A(n)____________ is an organizational model characterized by a hierarchy of authority, a clear division of labor, explicit rules and procedures, and impersonality in personal matters.

Accepted Answer

The characteristics described in the question are all components of a bureaucracy. A democracy is a form of government where power is held by the people, a monarchy is ruled by a monarch, and anarchy is a lack of government or authority.

Question 15

People do not voluntarily become members of ____________ organizations.

Accepted Answer

Coercive organizations are those that individuals do not voluntarily become members of but are forced to join, often under threat of punishment or consequences if they do not comply. Utilitarian organizations are formed to achieve specific goals or benefits, and members join voluntarily to achieve those benefits. Normative organizations are based on shared values and goals and individuals join because they are drawn to the organization's purpose. Totalitarian organizations are typically political or government organizations that exercise extreme control over their members and are characterized by a lack of personal freedom, which individuals do not voluntarily join.

Question 16

Social psychologist____________  examined group decision making among political experts and found that major blunders in U.S. history may be attributed to pressure toward group conformity.

Accepted Answer

The statement describes the phenomenon of "groupthink," which was first identified by social psychologist Irving Janis. Robert Merton is known for his work on social structure and anomie, Stanley Milgram for his studies on obedience to authority, and Solomon Asch for his research on conformity.

Question 17

A person's class (socioeconomic status based on a person's education, occupation, and income) is the most significant predictor of whether a person will participate in a mainstream____________  organization.

Accepted Answer

A normative organization is one that a person joins voluntarily because they share its goals and values. These organizations include professional associations, religious groups, and social clubs. Research has consistently shown that a person's class (socioeconomic status based on a person's education, occupation, and income) is the most significant predictor of whether they will participate in normative organizations. Members of higher classes are more likely to join and sustain their involvement in such groups. Therefore, the best choice is C- normative, as it aligns with the assertion made in the statement. Option A- Totalitarian does not necessarily relate to mainstream organizations, while option B- Coercive implies that participation is through force or threat, which is not the case in normative organizations, and option D- Utilitarian organizations are based on material rewards and benefits, which also do not align with the nature of normative organizations.

Question 18

In regard to Stanley Milgram's study, the text points out that____________  .

Accepted Answer

The text states that Milgram's study raises ethical questions related to the deception of the participants and the potential harm caused by the experiment.

Question 19

In 2010, concern about cost overruns and staying on schedule kept executives of BP, Halliburton, and Transocean from sharing information and concerns with each other. The result was a shared assumption of safety that ultimately resulted in the explosion of a BP oil rig and an unprecedented environmental disaster. The failure to express concerns and confront potential risk is an example of ____________ .

Accepted Answer

The failure of executives to share information and concerns with each other despite potential risks is an example of groupthink, where individuals prioritize the desire for harmony and conformity within a group over voicing dissent or criticism.

Question 20

We voluntarily join____________  organizations when they can provide us with a material reward we seek.

Accepted Answer

Utilitarian organizations are those that individuals voluntarily join to gain a material reward, such as a paycheck or other tangible benefits. Normative organizations are joined to pursue a common cause or belief, while coercive organizations are joined involuntarily under threat of retribution. Totalitarian organizations exert complete control over their members, often through force or intimidation.

Quiz 7: Class and Stratification in the United States

Total institutions, such as boot camps, prisons, and some mental hospitals, are examples of ____________ organizations.

Political parties, ecological activist groups, religious organizations, parent-teacher associations, and college sororities and fraternities are examples of____________ organizations.

Weber's term ____________ refers to the process by which traditional informal and spontaneous methods of social organization are gradually replaced by efficiently administered formal rules and procedures.

Sociologist Amitai Etzioni classified formal organizations into three categories. Which of these is not one of them?

Most government, business, education, and religious organizations are ____________ in form.

Which of these is an example of a utilitarian organization?

A(n) ____________ organization is a highly structured secondary group formed for the purpose of achieving specific goals in the most efficient manner.

In Stanley Milgram's experiments, none of the "teachers" challenged the process before they had applied __________ volts.

The leader of a work group has proposed a solution to a problem that some group members believe will have negative results. Instead of discussing their concerns, they do not want to challenge the leader's authority. The result is an unwise decision. The group has experienced____________ .

____________ is the term for the process by which members of a cohesive group arrive at a decision that many individual members privately believe is unwise.

We voluntarily join ____________ organizations when we want to pursue some common interest or gain personal satisfaction or prestige from being a member.

Which of these sociologists applied ideal type analysis and borrowed from the field of economics to study bureaucracies?

Almost ____________ of Stanley Milgram's research subjects went all the way to what could have been a deadly jolt of electricity if the shock generator had been real.

A(n) ____________ is an organizational model characterized by a hierarchy of authority, a clear division of labor, explicit rules and procedures, and impersonality in personal matters.

People do not voluntarily become members of ____________ organizations.

Social psychologist____________ examined group decision making among political experts and found that major blunders in U.S. history may be attributed to pressure toward group conformity.

A person's class (socioeconomic status based on a person's education, occupation, and income) is the most significant predictor of whether a person will participate in a mainstream____________ organization.

In regard to Stanley Milgram's study, the text points out that____________ .

We voluntarily join____________ organizations when they can provide us with a material reward we seek.