Question 1

The patterns of relationships and interaction that endure from one generation to the next are called:
A) social structures
B) statuses
C) social classes
D) stigmas

Accepted Answer

Social structures refer to the enduring patterns of relationships and interactions between individuals and groups. These patterns persist from one generation to the next, providing stability and predictability to social life. Examples of social structures include institutions like marriage, the family, and the economy, as well as more abstract systems like social class and power relations. Statuses and stigmas are more specific markers of social position, while social class is a concept related to social stratification.

Question 2

The behaviour associated with a particular status is called a:
A) master status
B) role
C) sanction
D) performance

Accepted Answer

The behaviour associated with a particular status is called a role. Master status refers to a status that is of utmost importance in a person's identity, sanction refers to a punishment or reward for upholding or violating a norm, and performance refers to the act of carrying out a specific behaviour or action.

Question 3

Herbie is a doctor, a boyfriend, a golf-player, a son, and a guitarist. To Herbie, being a doctor is the most important status in his life. As such, 'doctor' is Herbie's:
A) ascribed status
B) achieved status
C) master status
D) professional status

Accepted Answer

A master status is a status that is considered more important than other statuses a person holds. In Herbie's case, being a doctor is his master status because he considers it the most important status in his life. The other statuses he holds (boyfriend, golf-player, son, and guitarist) are not as important to him as being a doctor. Being a doctor is not an ascribed status because it is not something he was born with or inherited, he had to work hard to achieve it. It is not just a professional status because it holds more importance to him than just a job.

Question 4

When Marcia goes to her sociology class, she knows that she is supposed to listen to the teacher, take notes, and ask or answer questions. For Marcia, this is the __________________ of being a student.
A) ascribed status
B) role conflict
C) role expectation
D) role strain

Accepted Answer

Role expectations refer to the behaviors, obligations, and duties associated with a particular status. In this scenario, Marcia's role as a student has certain expectations, such as listening to the teacher, taking notes, and participating in discussions.

Question 5

The professor lectures in all of his classes. For the professor, lecturing is a:
A) status
B) role
C) stigma
D) social structure

Accepted Answer

A role refers to the social expectations and behaviors associated with a particular position within society. In this case, the professor is expected to lecture in their classes, which makes lecturing their role. The other options do not fit the situation as well. A status refers to a person's social position in a hierarchy, such as being a professor in this case. A stigma is a negative societal label that is attached to a person or group, which does not apply here. Social structure refers to the way that society is organized and the relationships between different groups and institutions, which is too broad of a concept for this specific situation.

Question 6

As a mother, Jenny is expected to be at her daughter's dance recital this afternoon. However, as dean of the college, Jenny is expected to participate in a college-wide administrator meeting. Because Jenny is being forced to choose between the two, she is experiencing:
A) role performance
B) role set
C) role strain
D) role conflict

Accepted Answer

Jenny is experiencing role conflict as she is being forced to choose between two incompatible roles (mother and dean) where satisfying one role's expectation may result in failing to meet the expectations of the other role.

Question 7

Aaron is a politician, a son, a father, a brother, a husband, a coach, and a neighbour. All of these together make up Aaron's:
A) status set
B) ascribed statuses
C) achieved statuses
D) master statuses

Accepted Answer

Aaron's status set refers to all of the statuses that he holds. It includes both ascribed statuses (such as son and brother, which he was born into) and achieved statuses (such as politician and coach, which he has earned through his actions and accomplishments). However, none of these individual statuses are necessarily more important or influential than any other, so none of them would be considered a master status.

Question 8

Peter started a new job as a cashier at the supermarket. After one week, the manager told him that he was disappointed because Peter was often late, took too long for his breaks, and his uniform was always dirty. The manager is commenting on Peter's:
A) role performance
B) role strain
C) social status
D) role conflict

Accepted Answer

The manager is commenting on Peter's job performance as a cashier, specifically his punctuality, break timing, and appearance. This relates to Peter's ability to fulfill his role as a cashier, which falls under the concept of role performance in sociology. Role strain refers to the tension or difficulty in fulfilling one specific role, which is not the case here as the manager is addressing multiple aspects of Peter's job performance. Social status refers to one's position in society, which is not explicitly relevant to this situation. Role conflict refers to conflicts between different roles or expectations, which is not the main issue here.

Question 9

Patel is a high school graduate. He is a cashier at a grocery store, and he plays running back on his local football team. For Patel, these are all:
A) ascribed statuses
B) achieved statuses
C) status symbols
D) public statuses

Accepted Answer

Patel's job as a cashier and his position as a running back on his local football team are both achieved statuses. These are statuses that one earns or acquires through their own efforts and abilities, rather than being assigned at birth or by society. As a high school graduate, however, that status could be either ascribed or achieved depending on how he earned it.

Question 10

When Shannon goes to work at the fast food restaurant, she puts on a uniform. The uniform is a(n):
A) status symbol
B) ascribed status
C) class symbol
D) sanction

Accepted Answer

A uniform in a work setting, such as a fast food restaurant, acts as a status symbol because it visually represents the role or position the wearer holds within the organization.

Question 11

Veronica is a student, a daughter, a girlfriend, and a sister. These are all examples of Veronica's:
A) statuses
B) classes
C) structures
D) identities

Accepted Answer

These are all examples of Veronica's statuses – social positions or roles that a person occupies in a society.

Question 12

Which term refers to socially defined positions that are characterized by certain expectations, rights, and duties?
A) Secondary group
B) Social class
C) Social status
D) Social structure

Accepted Answer

Social status refers to socially defined positions that are characterized by certain expectations, rights, and duties. Secondary group (A) refers to a group that is relatively impersonal, temporary, and based on a common activity. Social class (B) refers to a group of people in society who share similar levels of wealth, status, and power. Social structure (D) refers to the patterned social arrangements in society that persist over time.

Question 13

The socially defined behaviours appropriate for a particular status are called:
A) role expectations
B) role performance
C) role conflicts
D) role strains

Accepted Answer

Role expectations refer to the socially defined behaviours appropriate for a particular status. Role performance refers to how well an individual fulfills their role expectations. Role conflicts and role strains refer to difficulties or tensions related to fulfilling one's role expectations.

Question 14

A group of people with similar access to power, wealth, and prestige are called:
A) a social group
B) a status group
C) a social class
D) a peer group

Accepted Answer

A social class is defined by the economic differences among groups of individuals, including their access to resources like wealth, as well as differences in power and prestige. This encompasses the concept of people having similar levels of wealth, power, and prestige.

Question 15

Social class not only differentiates groups of people, it:
A) connects them
B) enhances them
C) rewards them
D) ranks them

Accepted Answer

Social class ranking is the main function of social class, which categorizes individuals and groups based on their economic, social, and cultural status. It creates a hierarchy and establishes power relations among individuals and groups. Therefore, ranking is the best choice that represents the purpose of social class. The other options do not fully describe the function of social class.

Question 16

Evan and Lisa are similar in their access to power, wealth, and prestige. As such, Evan and Lisa are in the same:
A) social structure
B) social institution
C) social class
D) social structure.

Accepted Answer

Evan and Lisa sharing similar access to power, wealth, and prestige places them in the same social class. Social class refers to a grouping of people in society based on their socioeconomic status, which includes factors such as education, occupation, and income. Social structure refers to the overall organization or pattern of relationships within a society. A social institution is a structured and organized group of social actors that work together to meet a particular set of social needs. Therefore, C is the best choice as it clearly identifies the specific aspect of social organization that unites Evan and Lisa.

Question 17

Ahmed is a son, a brother, and 18 years old. For Ahmed, these are all:
A) ascribed statuses
B) achieved statuses
C) master statuses
D) private statuses

Accepted Answer

Ascribed statuses are those that are assigned at birth and do not change during an individual's lifetime. Ahmed's roles as a son and a brother are ascribed because they are based on family relationships that were established when he was born. His age, 18, is also an ascribed status because it is a result of his birth date, not something he has achieved or chosen.

Question 18

Pietro wears a cross to show that he is Catholic. The cross is an example of a(n):
A) status symbol
B) master status
C) ascribed status
D) achieved status

Accepted Answer

The cross is an example of a status symbol because it is an object that signifies the religious affiliation (in this case, Catholicism) of the wearer, indicating a particular status within society. Status symbols are often used to convey information about an individual's identity, beliefs, or social position without the need for verbal communication.

Question 19

Because of the increasing fluidity of China's social systems, people are able to change their ____________.
A) ascribed status
B) social class
C) social structure
D) role performance

Accepted Answer

Social class is the correct answer because it refers to a person's position within the economic hierarchy, which can change due to factors like education, income, and occupation. In contrast, ascribed status, social structure, and role performance are less about individual mobility and more about societal roles, organization, and behavior in specific contexts, respectively.

Question 20

Structures that provide for patterned relationships and that are organized around a central activity or social need are called:
A) social institutions
B) social statuses
C) social roles
D) social classes

Accepted Answer

Social institutions are structures that provide for patterned relationships and are organized around a central activity or social need. They are established systems that have an important function in society, such as family, religion, education, government, and the economy. Social statuses and social roles are components of social institutions, but they do not encompass the entire structure. Social classes refer to the hierarchical divisions of society based on economic and social factors, but do not necessarily involve a central activity or social need.

Quiz 5: Social Structure and Interaction

The patterns of relationships and interaction that endure from one generation to the next are called:

The behaviour associated with a particular status is called a:

Herbie is a doctor, a boyfriend, a golf-player, a son, and a guitarist. To Herbie, being a doctor is the most important status in his life. As such, 'doctor' is Herbie's:

When Marcia goes to her sociology class, she knows that she is supposed to listen to the teacher, take notes, and ask or answer questions. For Marcia, this is the __________________ of being a student.

The professor lectures in all of his classes. For the professor, lecturing is a:

As a mother, Jenny is expected to be at her daughter's dance recital this afternoon. However, as dean of the college, Jenny is expected to participate in a college-wide administrator meeting. Because Jenny is being forced to choose between the two, she is experiencing:

Aaron is a politician, a son, a father, a brother, a husband, a coach, and a neighbour. All of these together make up Aaron's:

Peter started a new job as a cashier at the supermarket. After one week, the manager told him that he was disappointed because Peter was often late, took too long for his breaks, and his uniform was always dirty. The manager is commenting on Peter's:

Patel is a high school graduate. He is a cashier at a grocery store, and he plays running back on his local football team. For Patel, these are all:

When Shannon goes to work at the fast food restaurant, she puts on a uniform. The uniform is a(n) :

Veronica is a student, a daughter, a girlfriend, and a sister. These are all examples of Veronica's:

Which term refers to socially defined positions that are characterized by certain expectations, rights, and duties?

The socially defined behaviours appropriate for a particular status are called:

A group of people with similar access to power, wealth, and prestige are called:

Social class not only differentiates groups of people, it:

Evan and Lisa are similar in their access to power, wealth, and prestige. As such, Evan and Lisa are in the same:

Ahmed is a son, a brother, and 18 years old. For Ahmed, these are all:

Pietro wears a cross to show that he is Catholic. The cross is an example of a(n) :

Because of the increasing fluidity of China's social systems, people are able to change their ____________.

Structures that provide for patterned relationships and that are organized around a central activity or social need are called: