Suppose you go to a high school and identify groups of students sitting at different lunch tables. To you it appears that everyone on the football team sits at one table, everyone who gets really high grades sits at another table, everyone who is in the drama club sits at another table, and so on. This outcome could be
A)the result of everyone preferring to sit at a table with dissimilar students, but not want to be at a table if he or she is in a 30 percent minority or less.
B)because people naturally discriminate against (and make feel unwelcome)those people who are not like them.
C)because the school authorities have instituted a one-week experimental plan to keep students segregated (at lunch)according to certain key interests.
D)any of the scenarios presented here could be correct.

Question

Suppose you go to a high school and identify groups of students sitting at different lunch tables. To you it appears that everyone on the football team sits at one table, everyone who gets really high grades sits at another table, everyone who is in the drama club sits at another table, and so on.  This outcome could be
A)the result of everyone preferring to sit at a table with dissimilar students, but not want to be at a table if he or she is in a 30 percent minority or less.
B)because people naturally discriminate against (and make feel unwelcome)those people who are not like them.
C)because the school authorities have instituted a one-week experimental plan to keep students segregated (at lunch)according to certain key interests.
D)any of the scenarios presented here could be correct.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Without further information, any of the scenarios presented could be possible reasons for the observed lunch table groupings. It could be the result of individual preferences for sitting with similar peers, or it could be due to discriminatory practices. Alternatively, it could be a temporary experimental plan implemented by school authorities. More information would be needed to determine the exact reason for the observed lunch table groupings.

Suppose You Go to a High School and Identify Groups