Question 1

The social institution that is most recognized for allocating power, determining authority, and preventing chaos is ________.
A)the military
B)politics
C)law
D)education

Accepted Answer

Politics is the social institution that is most recognized for allocating power and determining authority. Through the process of elections and other forms of governance, politicians are chosen to represent and make decisions on behalf of the people. While law is also important for preventing chaos, it is a subset of politics as laws are created and enforced by political institutions. Education and the military have their own unique roles in society, but do not primarily focus on allocating power or determining authority.

Question 2

Basic needs that a society must meet in order to survive, which include replacement of members, preserving order, and socializing new members, are referred to as ________.
A)functional requisites
B)cultural goals
C)societal mandates
D)symbolic needs

Accepted Answer

These needs are commonly referred to as functional requisites, which are necessary for the survival of a society. Cultural goals refer to the aspirations or values a society may have, societal mandates are specific requirements or orders imposed by a governing authority, and symbolic needs refer to the desire for meaning or significance beyond basic survival.

Question 3

Leo, Ryan, and Matthew regularly interact with one another and share similar values, norms, and expectations. In view of this, which concept most applies to their relationship?
A)They are an aggregate.
B)They are a category.
C)They are a group.
D)They are a social institution.

Accepted Answer

Leo, Ryan, and Matthew regularly interact with one another and share similar values, norms, and expectations. This indicates that they have a sense of belonging and identity with one another, which is a characteristic of a group. An aggregate refers to a collection of individuals with no shared sense of identity, whereas a category refers to a collection of individuals who share a common trait but may not necessarily interact with one another. A social institution is a larger, more complex set of relationships that governs social behavior in a particular society.

Question 4

In what three states do 75 percent of the Old Order Amish live?
A)Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana
B)Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia
C)Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin
D)Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia

Accepted Answer

According to the article, 75 percent of the Old Order Amish live in the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana.

Question 5

Expectations that guide our behavior are called ________.
A)values
B)norms
C)statuses
D)roles

Accepted Answer

Expectations that guide our behavior are called norms. Values are beliefs about what is important or desirable, statuses are the positions we occupy in society, and roles are the expected behaviors associated with those positions.

Question 6

According to Durkheim, when a society increases in size, its division of labor becomes more specialized. People begin to depend upon one another and become interdependent. This form of social cohesion was a concept that he termed ________.
A)Gemeinschaft
B)organic solidarity
C)mechanical solidarity
D)Gesellschaft

Accepted Answer

Durkheim believed that as society increases in size and complexity, its division of labor becomes more specialized, leading to interdependence among individuals. This form of social cohesion is known as organic solidarity. The other options listed (Gemeinschaft, mechanical solidarity, and Gesellschaft) are concepts related to other sociological theories and do not fit with Durkheim's idea of social cohesion in larger societies.

Question 7

What term does Durkheim use to describe the degree to which members of a society are united by shared values and other social bonds?
A)social stratification
B)social class
C)social imperative
D)social integration

Accepted Answer

Durkheim uses the term "social integration" to refer to the degree to which members of a society are united by shared values and other social bonds. Social integration is one of the key concepts in Durkheim's theory of social order and is closely related to his ideas about social solidarity.

Question 8

Believing that all football players are academically challenged, that all African Americans are great athletes, and that all women can cook well are examples of ________.
A)culture shock
B)the relativist fallacy
C)stereotyping
D)cultural relativism

Accepted Answer

Stereotyping involves making generalizations or assumptions about a group of people based on certain characteristics or traits. The examples given in the question are all stereotypical beliefs that are not necessarily true or accurate.

Question 9

As societies grow larger, they divide work among members based on some standardized characteristic such as age or sex. This is referred to as ________.
A)social solidarity
B)social imperative
C)division of labor
D)class structure

Accepted Answer

The division of labor is the term used to describe the process in which work is divided among members of a society based on specific characteristics. This can include age, sex, or other factors, and is a key element in the development of complex societies. A is incorrect because social solidarity refers to the sense of unity and cohesion within a society. B is incorrect because social imperative refers to the idea that certain actions are required by society or cultural norms. D is incorrect because class structure refers to the hierarchy of social classes within a society, which is related to but distinct from the division of labor.

Question 10

Which of the following statements best describes how stereotypes affect our interaction with others when we first meet?
A)Stereotypes are usually based on objective facts and hold true.
B)Stereotypes are rarely important in social interaction.
C)Stereotypes provide accurate information about what the person is like.
D)Stereotypes are the assumptions we make that can become self-fulfilling prophecies.

Accepted Answer

Stereotypes are the assumptions we make about someone based on their group membership (e.g. gender, race, religion, etc.). These assumptions can become self-fulfilling prophecies because we may unconsciously treat someone based on the stereotype we hold, leading them to behave and confirm our expectations. This can negatively impact our interaction with others when we first meet them.

Question 11

Based on Durkheim's classification of society, the Old Order Amish would fall into which category?
A)mechanical solidarity
B)organic solidarity
C)Gemeinschaft
D)Gesellschaft

Accepted Answer

The Old Order Amish are a prime example of a society with mechanical solidarity. They have a strong collective consciousness and share common values, beliefs, and practices, which bind them together. They rely on traditional roles and relationships, with little individual autonomy, resulting in a highly cohesive and interdependent community.

Question 12

The organized, usual, or standard ways by which society meets its basic needs are referred to as ________.
A)social institutions
B)social imperatives
C)social aggregates
D)social solidarity

Accepted Answer

Social institutions are established patterns of behavior organized around meeting basic social needs, such as the family, education, government, religion, and the economy. Social imperatives refer to the essential needs or requirements of a society, but do not necessarily describe the ways in which those needs are met. Social aggregates are collections of individuals who happen to be in the same place at the same time, but do not necessarily share any common social characteristics. Social solidarity refers to the level of moral cohesion within a society.

Question 13

The notion that the mass media represents the varied interests of many groups would reflect a position consistent with ________ theory.
A)exchange
B)conflict
C)functionalist
D)symbolic interactionist

Accepted Answer

The functionalist theory emphasizes that institutions in society, including the media, serve a specific function to maintain social order and harmony. Therefore, a perspective that suggests the media represents the varied interests of many groups aligns with the functionalist position.

Question 14

Ferdinand Tönnies' term for the type of society he referred to as the "intimate community" was ________. The term he used to describe the type of society characterized by "impersonal association" was ________.
A)mechanical society; organic society
B)Gesellschaft; Gemeinschaft
C)organic society; mechanical society
D)Gemeinschaft; Gesellschaft

Accepted Answer

Ferdinand Tönnies' term for the type of society he referred to as the "intimate community" was Gemeinschaft, while the term he used to describe the type of society characterized by "impersonal association" was Gesellschaft. Therefore, the best choice is D.

Question 15

Mechanical solidarity is to Gemeinschaft as ________ solidarity is to Gesellschaft.
A)organic
B)tribal
C)folk
D)natural

Accepted Answer

Mechanical solidarity is a concept associated with Gemeinschaft, which is a type of community characterized by strong social bonds and a shared sense of identity. Similarly, organic solidarity is a concept associated with Gesellschaft, which is a type of society characterized by a division of labor and individualism. Therefore, the correct answer is A) organic.

Question 16

Which of the following groups is LEAST qualified as a social institution?
A)a neighborhood street gang
B)a family
C)a religious group
D)a military unit

Accepted Answer

A neighborhood street gang is least qualified as a social institution because it is not recognized by society as a legitimate or formal organization. It operates outside of the law and its activities often involve criminal behavior. While families, religious groups, and military units are all recognized and established social institutions that serve important roles in society.

Question 17

The anthropologist recognized for his work on personal space was ________.
A)Talcott Parsons
B)Edward Hall
C)William I. Thomas
D)Robert K. Merton

Accepted Answer

Edward Hall was an anthropologist who coined the term "proxemics" and conducted extensive research on personal space and how it varies between cultures.

Question 18

Hilda is studying at the library. She has placed her coat on the chair next to her and has spread books in front of the other chairs. Hilda is trying to extend her ________ so others do not invade it.
A)intimate space
B)personal space
C)social space
D)public space

Accepted Answer

Hilda is extending her personal space by placing her coat and books on the chairs next to her. Personal space is the region around a person which they regard as their own territory. Intimate space refers to the very close proximity to a person that is reserved only for highly personal communications such as embracing or whispering; social space refers to the area that people maintain between each other during interactions that are considered more formal or professional; public space refers to the space used by the community at large such as streets and parks.

Question 19

Expectations that define appropriate or inappropriate behavior for the occupant of a status are called ________.
A)folkways
B)roles
C)mores
D)simple norms

Accepted Answer

Roles define the expectations and behaviors associated with an individual's position or status within a society or group. Folkways are informal customs or traditions, mores are more serious norms that carry moral significance, and simple norms are basic or general guidelines for behavior.

Question 20

Theorists who would argue that the mass media represents the interests of society's political and economic elites would be most aligned with the ________ perspective.
A)functionalist
B)symbolic interactionist
C)structuralist
D)conflict

Accepted Answer

The conflict perspective emphasizes the ways in which society is characterized by inequality and struggles for power and resources. The argument that the mass media serves the interests of political and economic elites represents the conflict between the dominant and subordinate classes.

Quiz 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction

The social institution that is most recognized for allocating power, determining authority, and preventing chaos is ________.

Basic needs that a society must meet in order to survive, which include replacement of members, preserving order, and socializing new members, are referred to as ________.

Leo, Ryan, and Matthew regularly interact with one another and share similar values, norms, and expectations. In view of this, which concept most applies to their relationship?

In what three states do 75 percent of the Old Order Amish live?

Expectations that guide our behavior are called ________.

According to Durkheim, when a society increases in size, its division of labor becomes more specialized. People begin to depend upon one another and become interdependent. This form of social cohesion was a concept that he termed ________.

What term does Durkheim use to describe the degree to which members of a society are united by shared values and other social bonds?

Believing that all football players are academically challenged, that all African Americans are great athletes, and that all women can cook well are examples of ________.

As societies grow larger, they divide work among members based on some standardized characteristic such as age or sex. This is referred to as ________.

Which of the following statements best describes how stereotypes affect our interaction with others when we first meet?

Based on Durkheim's classification of society, the Old Order Amish would fall into which category?

The organized, usual, or standard ways by which society meets its basic needs are referred to as ________.

The notion that the mass media represents the varied interests of many groups would reflect a position consistent with ________ theory.

Ferdinand Tönnies' term for the type of society he referred to as the "intimate community" was . The term he used to describe the type of society characterized by "impersonal association" was .

Mechanical solidarity is to Gemeinschaft as ________ solidarity is to Gesellschaft.

Which of the following groups is LEAST qualified as a social institution?

The anthropologist recognized for his work on personal space was ________.

Hilda is studying at the library. She has placed her coat on the chair next to her and has spread books in front of the other chairs. Hilda is trying to extend her ________ so others do not invade it.

Expectations that define appropriate or inappropriate behavior for the occupant of a status are called ________.

Theorists who would argue that the mass media represents the interests of society's political and economic elites would be most aligned with the ________ perspective.