Question 1

A twenty-eight-year-old woman is on the verge of a big promotion at work. She didn't finish college until she was twenty-five, and the entry-level job she currently has is unimpressive. She decides to attend her ten-year high school reunion only if she is promoted. What do sociologists say her high school classmates represent if they can have this much influence on her decision to attend the reunion?
A) an out-group
B) a reference group
C) a primary group
D) a virtual community

Accepted Answer

Sociologists would say that the woman's high school classmates represent a reference group, which is a group of people that an individual uses as a standard for evaluating their own attitudes and behaviors. In this case, the woman is using her potential promotion as the standard for attending her high school reunion, and her high school classmates are the reference group that she is comparing herself to.

Question 2

The Solomon Asch experiment, in which groups of participants were asked to compare the lengths of lines, demonstrated that
A) an authoritarian leader can strongly influence group members.
B) groups have great power to induce conformity.
C) the larger the group is, the less each member has a sense of individual responsibility.
D) peer pressure emerges when a group's task is relatively difficult or demanding.

Accepted Answer

The Solomon Asch experiment demonstrated that groups have great power to induce conformity. Participants were asked to compare the lengths of lines, and even when the correct answer was obvious, the majority of participants conformed to the incorrect answer given by the group. This suggests that the pressure to conform within a group can be extremely powerful.

Question 3

What do sociologists call it when members of groups are influenced by other members?
A) internalization
B) commodification
C) social influence
D) rationalization

Accepted Answer

Sociologists call it social influence when members of groups are influenced by other members. Social influence can take many forms, including conformity, peer pressure, and groupthink. It is a fundamental aspect of social interaction and can have both positive and negative effects on individuals and groups.

Question 4

The sense of solidarity or team spirit that an individual feels toward their group is called
A) expressive leadership.
B) group cohesion.
C) anomie.
D) instrumental leadership.

Accepted Answer

The sense of solidarity or team spirit that an individual feels toward their group is called group cohesion.

Question 5

Group cohesion is likely to be highest among which group?
A) a secret society at an Ivy League university
B) all Hispanic students in a single high school
C) students in a sociology 101 course
D) a high school graduating class

Accepted Answer

Group cohesion tends to be highest among groups with a strong sense of identity and exclusivity, such as a secret society at an Ivy League university.

Question 6

Which of the following is best suited to preventing groupthink?
A) a leader who encourages and rewards the presentation of alternative opinions
B) a strict meritocracy in which only the best and brightest are hired
C) strict control over the flow of information into and out of an organization
D) a strong leader who controls every aspect of the decision-making process

Accepted Answer

A leader who encourages and rewards the presentation of alternative opinions is best suited to preventing groupthink. This allows for a diversity of opinions and ideas to be shared, considered, and potentially incorporated into the decision-making process, reducing the chances of the group being influenced by conformity and unanimity pressures. Option B is not necessarily relevant to preventing groupthink, as intelligence alone does not necessarily lead to diverse thinking. Option C could actually contribute to groupthink, as it limits the amount of diverse information that is able to be considered. Option D is likely to reinforce groupthink, as it limits dissenting opinions and stifles open communication within the group.

Question 7

Which response would you LEAST expect to find on the survey if a sociologist measured group cohesion within a neighborhood and found a high level of group cohesion?
A) "Overall, I find this neighborhood very attractive."
B) "If my neighbors were planning something, I would think of it as something 'we' were doing rather than something 'they' were doing."
C) "I feel a sense of loyalty to my neighbors."
D) "I feel comfortable in all sorts of neighborhoods."

Accepted Answer

A high level of group cohesion suggests that people feel a strong sense of unity with their neighbors and are more likely to feel a sense of place attachment. Therefore, it would be unexpected to find a response indicating comfort in various types of neighborhoods, as it suggests a lack of attachment or identification with any particular community.

Question 8

University leaders ignore rumors and complaints about the football coach sexually abusing students in order to uphold the reputation of the university's award-winning football program. This action to preserve public image over protecting the safety of students is a result of
A) a primary group.
B) anomie or normlessness.
C) groupthink.
D) a reference group.

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes groupthink, which is a phenomenon where group members prioritize maintaining unity and conformity within the group over critically evaluating information or alternative viewpoints. In this case, the university leaders prioritize the reputation of their football program over the safety of their students, due to pressure to conform to the group's values and goals.

Question 9

People today are more likely to identify themselves through personal characteristics than through group membership or affiliation. Why is this cause for concern to some sociologists?
A) People who identify themselves through personal characteristics are less likely to try to achieve their goals and advance themselves.
B) People who identify themselves through personal characteristics are more likely to blindly follow orders and bow to peer pressure.
C) People who identify themselves through personal characteristics are more likely to have large social networks and maintain connections to their communities.
D) People who identify themselves through personal characteristics might care less about the common good.

Accepted Answer

Some sociologists believe that identifying oneself primarily through personal characteristics may lead to a more individualistic perspective, where the common good and community values may not be prioritized as much as individual goals and desires. This could potentially harm social cohesion and overall societal harmony.

Question 10

Sociologists are interested in how social groups have changed over time. Of particular note is the degree to which individuals base their identities on group membership. How has this changed in recent American history?
A) Americans today are more likely to base their self-concepts on group membership.
B) The degree to which Americans base their identities on group membership has changed very little in the past few decades.
C) Americans today are more likely to base their identities on secondary groups.
D) Americans are less likely to identify themselves as group members today than in the past.

Accepted Answer

Americans today are less likely to base their identities solely on group membership compared to the past. This shift reflects broader societal changes, including the rise of individualism and the diversification of identities and affiliations.

Question 11

Which of the following is a factor that can lead to increased group cohesion?
A) shared values
B) unique traits
C) apathy toward the group
D) differing goals

Accepted Answer

Shared values provide a common ground for group members and can increase their sense of belonging and unity. Unique traits, apathy toward the group, and differing goals can lead to division and decreased cohesion.

Question 12

Which of the following statements would be most convincing to a sociologist if you were trying to explain the shift from A-mode and B-mode responses to C-mode responses on the Twenty Statements Test?
A) Americans have become more and more generous over the years, and their answers reflect a desire to give something back.
B) People care less about what researchers think about them, so they are more likely to answer honestly and admit that they've always been selfish.
C) The accelerated pace of social change makes it increasingly difficult to think about the self in terms of group membership.
D) There has been a fundamental shift in individual values and psychology that has led to a long-term change in American social structure.

Accepted Answer

C-mode responses reflect an emphasis on individuality and personal attributes, rather than group membership or social roles. The accelerated pace of social change means that individuals are increasingly defining themselves in terms of their personal qualities and experiences, rather than their social roles or group memberships. This shift is reflected in the move away from A-mode and B-mode responses (which emphasize group membership and social roles) towards C-mode responses. Option A is unlikely to be persuasive for sociologists as it is based on a broad generalization without evidence. Option B is unlikely to be persuasive as it relies on assumptions about honesty and self-awareness that may be difficult to measure. Option D is unlikely to be persuasive as it suggests a fundamental shift in values and psychology without supporting evidence.

Question 13

What do we call groups that are used as standards to evaluate ourselves positively, in terms of the qualities we aspire to achieve, or negatively, in terms of the qualities we wish to avoid?
A) reference groups
B) out-groups
C) in-groups
D) networks

Accepted Answer

Reference groups are groups that are used as standards to evaluate ourselves positively or negatively. They can be either aspirational (groups we aspire to be like) or avoidance (groups we wish to avoid being like). Out-groups refer to groups outside of our own, while in-groups are groups we belong to. Networks refer to a group of individuals connected through social ties.

Question 14

The phrase "keeping up with the Joneses" is an example of what group concept?
A) triad
B) in-group
C) out-group
D) reference group

Accepted Answer

The phrase "keeping up with the Joneses" refers to trying to match or exceed the possessions or accomplishments of one's reference group, which in this case is the Joneses. Therefore, it is an example of reference group concept.

Question 15

What sort of group dynamic may have led officials at NASA to ignore warnings and launch the space shuttle Challenger, which exploded shortly after takeoff ?
A) groupthink
B) peer pressure
C) social influence
D) group cohesion

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is the tendency for a group to prioritize consensus over critical thinking and dissenting opinions, leading to flawed decision-making. In the case of NASA and the Challenger launch, there was pressure to meet deadlines and maintain the public perception of NASA's capabilities, which may have contributed to a culture of groupthink, causing officials to overlook warnings and launch the shuttle despite the risks. Peer pressure and social influence can be components of groupthink, but they are not specific enough to fully explain the decision-making process in this situation. Group cohesion is important for teamwork and collaboration, but it is not a deciding factor in ignoring warnings and launching the shuttle.

Question 16

The Twenty Statements Test asks respondents to make twenty true statements about themselves that begin with the phrase "I am." Why is this test discussed in a chapter about social groups?
A) It was developed to measure the extent to which individuals follow the norms of their primary groups.
B) It helps sociologists understand the extent to which group norms constrain individuals.
C) It helps to map social networks by establishing what social ties exist between people.
D) It was developed to measure the extent to which we base our identity on membership in groups.

Accepted Answer

The Twenty Statements Test is discussed in a chapter about social groups because it was developed to measure the extent to which we base our identity on membership in groups. The test helps to reveal how a person's sense of self is connected to their social affiliations, indicating the importance of groups in shaping individual identity.

Question 17

What is the danger of too much group cohesion?
A) It leads to endless discussion that tends to preclude any real action.
B) It makes group members more susceptible to anomie or normlessness.
C) It reduces the degree to which members are attracted to the group.
D) It can lead to groupthink, in which dissenting opinions are strongly discouraged.

Accepted Answer

Too much group cohesion can lead to groupthink, in which dissenting opinions are strongly discouraged. This can result in a lack of critical thinking and a failure to consider alternative perspectives, leading to poor decision-making and potential negative consequences.

Question 18

What are group members engaging in when they withhold their reservations and criticisms for the sake of consensus?
A) group solidarity
B) laissez-faire decision making
C) groupthink
D) expressive leadership

Accepted Answer

Withholding reservations and criticisms for the sake of consensus is a characteristic of groupthink, which occurs when a group values harmony and conformity over critical thinking and objective analysis. Group members may feel pressure to conform to the group's consensus and may suppress their own doubts or objections to avoid disrupting the group's cohesion. This can lead to flawed decision-making processes and outcomes.

Question 19

People attend high school class reunions and often compare their own personal and professional successes and failures with those of their former classmates. This means that classmates are a(n) ________ group.
A) reference
B) secondary
C) professional
D) identity

Accepted Answer

Classmates at high school reunions serve as a reference group because individuals use them as a standard for comparison in terms of personal and professional achievements.

Question 20

What do sociologists call a group that provides standards by which an individual can judge their own accomplishments?
A) a secondary group
B) a social network
C) a reference group
D) a primary group

Accepted Answer

Sociologists call a group that provides standards by which an individual can judge their own accomplishments a reference group.

Quiz 5: Separate and Together: Life in Groups

The Solomon Asch experiment, in which groups of participants were asked to compare the lengths of lines, demonstrated that

What do sociologists call it when members of groups are influenced by other members?

The sense of solidarity or team spirit that an individual feels toward their group is called

Group cohesion is likely to be highest among which group?

Which of the following is best suited to preventing groupthink?

Which response would you LEAST expect to find on the survey if a sociologist measured group cohesion within a neighborhood and found a high level of group cohesion?

University leaders ignore rumors and complaints about the football coach sexually abusing students in order to uphold the reputation of the university's award-winning football program. This action to preserve public image over protecting the safety of students is a result of

People today are more likely to identify themselves through personal characteristics than through group membership or affiliation. Why is this cause for concern to some sociologists?

Sociologists are interested in how social groups have changed over time. Of particular note is the degree to which individuals base their identities on group membership. How has this changed in recent American history?

Which of the following is a factor that can lead to increased group cohesion?

Which of the following statements would be most convincing to a sociologist if you were trying to explain the shift from A-mode and B-mode responses to C-mode responses on the Twenty Statements Test?

What do we call groups that are used as standards to evaluate ourselves positively, in terms of the qualities we aspire to achieve, or negatively, in terms of the qualities we wish to avoid?

The phrase "keeping up with the Joneses" is an example of what group concept?

What sort of group dynamic may have led officials at NASA to ignore warnings and launch the space shuttle Challenger, which exploded shortly after takeoff ?

The Twenty Statements Test asks respondents to make twenty true statements about themselves that begin with the phrase "I am." Why is this test discussed in a chapter about social groups?

What is the danger of too much group cohesion?

What are group members engaging in when they withhold their reservations and criticisms for the sake of consensus?

People attend high school class reunions and often compare their own personal and professional successes and failures with those of their former classmates. This means that classmates are a(n) ________ group.

What do sociologists call a group that provides standards by which an individual can judge their own accomplishments?