Question 1

Betsy sees public schools as a problem, rather than a public good. She would rather convert them into places for private corporations to maximize profit and train obedient workers. Betsy's view is most likely shaped by ______.

Accepted Answer

Rationalization refers to the process of making institutions more efficient and profit-driven, aligning with Betsy's view of converting public schools into profit-maximizing entities.

Question 2

Why is crude oil considered a commodity?

Accepted Answer

Crude oil is considered a commodity because it is standardized, has monetary value, and is produced on a large scale by various companies, making it a tradable item in financial markets.

Question 3

Public schools provide education paid for by taxpayers, but private schools require tuition, and represent schooling which has been ______.

Accepted Answer

Private schools represent schooling that has been commodified, meaning they are treated or considered as a commodity to be bought and sold, reflecting their nature of requiring tuition from students or their families.

Question 4

Cultural appropriation is a form of the ______ of culture.

Accepted Answer

Cultural appropriation often involves the commodification of one culture by another, typically by adopting elements of a minority culture by members of a dominant culture in a way that strips them of their original meaning or value, and often without permission or understanding.

Question 5

Which of these is an example of the commodification of culture?

Accepted Answer

Mass-produced Native American dream catchers are an example of the commodification of culture because they turn cultural symbols into mass-produced items for sale, often stripping them of their original cultural significance and context.

Question 6

Dan owns a football team. Several Native American groups have told him the nickname and logos he uses for his team are offensive and racist. Dan has ______ stereotypical Native American imagery.

Accepted Answer

Dan has commodified stereotypical Native American imagery by using it for commercial purposes, such as branding for his football team, despite the offense it causes to Native American groups.

Question 7

Émile Durkheim said societies in which everyone is very similar, or homogenous, are based on ______ solidarity.

Accepted Answer

Émile Durkheim described societies where individuals share similar values, beliefs, and backgrounds as being based on mechanical solidarity. This concept contrasts with organic solidarity, which he used to describe more complex, heterogeneous societies where individuals are interdependent due to the division of labor.

Question 8

Durkheim would most likely categorize the United States as a society based on ______ solidarity.

Accepted Answer

Durkheim would categorize the United States as a society based on organic solidarity, which is characterized by a complex division of labor and interdependence among individuals, typical of modern, industrial societies.

Question 9

Aboriginal Australians often live separately in their own communities as a way of preserving their ancient culture. This society is most likely based on ______ solidarity.

Accepted Answer

Mechanical solidarity is characteristic of traditional, pre-industrial societies where people share similar work, values, and lifestyles, leading to a strong sense of community and collective conscience, as seen in Aboriginal Australian communities.

Question 10

A self-sufficient farming community in which every family grows its own food and makes its own goods has little ______.

Accepted Answer

In a self-sufficient farming community where each family grows its own food and makes its own goods, there is little division of labor because most tasks are performed within the family unit, rather than being specialized and divided among different workers or groups.

Question 11

What is one advantage of a high degree of division of labor, such as in factories?

Accepted Answer

Division of labor allows for specialization, which increases efficiency and productivity. This leads to lower production costs, making labor cheaper and goods more affordable.

Question 12

Eric installs engines in cars for a major automobile manufacturer in Michigan: he does a repetitive task and only knows how to install engines. Erik uses money he earns from his job to purchase most everything he needs to live his life, thus living in a society based on ______ solidarity.

Accepted Answer

Eric's situation reflects organic solidarity, where individuals perform specialized tasks and rely on others for goods and services, typical of modern industrial societies.

Question 13

What is one drawback of increasing division of labor for employees?

Accepted Answer

Increasing division of labor, especially with the integration of automation and assembly lines, can lead to a reduced demand for skilled workers as machines take over tasks that were previously performed by humans. This can lead to job displacement for those whose skills are no longer in demand.

Question 14

Who developed the principle of scientific management?

Accepted Answer

Frederick Taylor developed the principle of scientific management, which is a theory of management that analyzes and synthesizes workflows to improve economic efficiency, especially labor productivity.

Question 15

Who developed the assembly line to speed up and standardize production?

Accepted Answer

Henry Ford is credited with developing the assembly line technique of mass production, significantly speeding up and standardizing the production process, especially in the automobile industry.

Question 16

What is one innovation introduced when the assembly line was standardized?

Accepted Answer

Specialized machines were introduced to replace skilled laborers in making parts, which significantly increased efficiency and production speed. This was a key innovation of the standardized assembly line.

Question 17

Why are workers sometimes frustrated and angered when companies switch to assembly line production?

Accepted Answer

The switch to assembly line production often leads to tasks becoming more repetitive and specialized, which can make the work feel unthinking and uncreative, leading to frustration among workers.

Question 18

What did Frederick Taylor do to help cause the decline of skilled workers?

Accepted Answer

Taylor's scientific management broke down skilled tasks into simpler parts, making it easier to train unskilled workers to perform them, thus reducing the demand for skilled labor.

Question 19

What is the logical outcome of embracing scientific management principles in manufacturing?

Accepted Answer

Scientific management principles focus on efficiency and productivity, often leading to automation and the use of robots to streamline manufacturing processes.

Question 20

Edison entered a shop in the airport while waiting for his flight. There was no clerk in the shop, just a terminal to scan the barcode of any merchandise for purchase. Edison walked into a shop that uses ______ to cut labor costs.

Accepted Answer

The shop Edison entered uses automation to cut labor costs, as indicated by the use of a terminal for scanning merchandise instead of a human clerk.

Quiz 10: Work and Rationalization