Question 1

Marc is a member of his university's football team.As such,he must adhere to strict rules of membership including attending all team practices and earning a passing grade in all his classes.Due to this structured membership,the team is a ____ reference group.

Accepted Answer

The team is a formal reference group because it has a clear structure with specific rules and expectations for membership. The fact that there are requirements for attending practices and maintaining grades demonstrates this formality. Dense refers to the number of connections between group members, homophilic refers to groups that share similar characteristics or interests, secondary refers to groups that are less important to an individual's identity, and weak-tied refers to relationships with lower levels of intimacy and interaction. None of these terms accurately describe the football team as described in the question.

Question 2

When members perceive a group as ____,they have stronger intentions to conform.

Accepted Answer

When members perceive a group as very attractive, they have stronger intentions to conform. This is because they want to be accepted by the group and seen as a valuable member.

Question 3

Associative reference groups are groups that

Accepted Answer

Associative reference groups are those groups to which an individual actually belongs, reflecting a direct connection and identification with the group.

Question 4

After graduation,Ted joined the army.Bracing for a haircut and awakening before 10:00 a.m.for the first time in his life,Ted was feeling the influence of a(n)____ reference group.

Accepted Answer

An associative reference group is one that an individual currently belongs to and identifies with, such as the army for Ted.

Question 5

A local hiking group is mostly composed of local college students who are middle class and also have similar political views.This is an example of a group high in

Accepted Answer

Homophily refers to the tendency for people to form connections with others who are similar to themselves in some way, such as having similar backgrounds, interests, or beliefs. In this case, the hiking group is composed of local college students who have similar political views and are middle class, indicating a high degree of homophily within the group.

Question 6

Groups that are high in formality are those which

Accepted Answer

Formal groups are those that have a clear structure, rules and procedures that must be followed. They are organized and operate in an orderly and systematic manner. Therefore, option A is the best choice as it describes the feature of formal groups.

Question 7

If marketers know their target consumers' aspirational reference groups,they can

Accepted Answer

By associating their product with the target consumer's aspirational reference group, marketers can create a perceived connection between the product and the desired lifestyle or status. This can result in increased brand loyalty and sales among the target consumer group.

Question 8

A group of friends from different backgrounds and interests that gets together every weekend for group activities and to eat together could be considered a reference group that has high

Accepted Answer

The group has high density because they frequently interact and have strong social ties, even though they come from different backgrounds and interests.

Question 9

Ying is a member of several online computer gaming communities.For her,these online communities serve as ____ reference groups.

Accepted Answer

Secondary reference groups are those that are not as close or intimate as primary groups, such as family and close friends, but still influence an individual's attitudes and behaviors. Online communities fit this description as they provide a sense of belonging and influence without the personal closeness of primary groups.

Question 10

In order to advertise to consumers in a certain reference group,the best strategy is for marketers to

Accepted Answer

The best strategy for marketers to advertise to a certain reference group is to accurately reflect the clothing, hair styles, accessories, and general demeanor of the group members. This approach will help the marketers appeal to the group's identity and values, making them more likely to purchase the product or service being advertised. Knowing the need for cognition, physiological reactions, legal system, or shopping speed of the group members may offer some value, but it is not directly relevant to advertising strategy.

Question 11

Amazon.com creates a(n)____ by inviting consumers to post their own reviews of the books,music,and other products it sells.

Accepted Answer

Amazon.com's invitation to consumers to post their own reviews of products creates a brand community, in which customers feel a sense of belonging and engagement with the brand. This community can also impact purchasing behavior and brand loyalty. The other options (ad group, marketer reference group, brand extension, advertising reference group) do not accurately describe the relationship between Amazon.com and its customers through consumer reviews.

Question 12

Even though one may be an Asian or Hispanic,one need not necessarily regard these individuals as part of their reference group.This is an example of low

Accepted Answer

Low identification refers to a situation where an individual does not consider themselves as part of a certain group even though they belong to the same social category. In this case, even though someone may be of Asian or Hispanic origin, they do not identify with these groups, and therefore do not consider them as part of their reference group.

Question 13

Michael's family,friends and teachers are an example of his ____ reference group.

Accepted Answer

Michael's family, friends, and teachers are considered his primary reference group because they are the closest people to him, with whom he interacts on a regular basis.

Question 14

Political divisions are a good example of when one side is a(n)____ reference group for those on the other side.

Accepted Answer

When political divisions are present, individuals who belong to one side often view the other side as a dissociative reference group because they actively distance themselves and their beliefs from the opposing group.

Question 15

A(n)____ is a specialized group of consumers with a structured set of social relationships centered around a particular brand.

Accepted Answer

A brand community is a specialized group of consumers who have a shared interest or passion for a particular brand or product. They have a structured set of social relationships, often online, where they can connect with other members who share their enthusiasm for the brand. This community may be facilitated by the brand itself or may be entirely consumer-driven. Marketer reference groups and advertising reference groups are not specific to a particular brand, while an ad group is a term typically used in digital advertising. Brand extension refers to expanding a brand's product line into new categories or markets.

Question 16

A business school has set up a gateway course that attempts to build close,intimate relationships between the students on the premise that this will increase graduation rates.They are attempting to increase what is known as the ____ of the student cohort.

Accepted Answer

Tie-strength refers to the closeness or intimacy of relationships between individuals, which the school aims to increase to improve graduation rates.

Question 17

Whitney is a teenager who loves the program Hannah Montana.She wants to be just like the star of the show,Miley Cyrus,and looks to Miley for information on how to dress and behave.For Whitney,Miley Cyrus is a(n)

Accepted Answer

Aspirational reference groups are those that individuals admire and desire to be like. In this case, Whitney looks up to Miley Cyrus as a role model and wants to emulate her behavior and style.

Question 18

With rising prosperity in Japan starting in the late 1960s,many of the middleclass emulated the American middle-class lifestyle in order to be like their American counterparts.This is an example of the influence of a(n)____ reference group.

Accepted Answer

The middleclass in Japan were emulating the lifestyle of the American middle-class in order to be like them, indicating that the American middle-class served as an aspirational reference group for them.

Question 19

All of the following characteristics of reference groups would allow for quick dissemination of information except

Accepted Answer

Low homophily, which refers to dissimilarity or diversity within a group, would not necessarily enable quick dissemination of information. In fact, high homophily, or similarity, could make it easier for members to quickly understand and share information with each other. High density, high tie-strength, high identification, and frequent contact are all characteristics that would facilitate quick dissemination of information within a reference group.

Question 20

When groups are homophilous,reference group influence

Accepted Answer

Homophilous groups are composed of individuals who are similar to each other in terms of characteristics such as age, gender, race, and socioeconomic status. This similarity leads to a greater degree of social influence among group members, as they are more likely to share attitudes, values, and interests. Therefore, reference group influence in homophilous groups is quite strong.

Quiz 11: Social Influences on Consumer Behavior