Question 1

An institution is a recognized area of social life that is organized along a system of norms regulating behaviour.

Accepted Answer

Institutions are structures and mechanisms of social order and cooperation governing the behavior of a set of individuals within a given human community. They are recognized as having a particular purpose or focus, and they operate under a system of norms and rules that guide and regulate behavior and actions within that area of social life.

Question 2

In complex societies like Canada, the institution of the family has a great deal of stability.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 3

Jennifer lives with her grandparents, John and Susan Smith. She is living in a horizontal nuclear family.

Accepted Answer

Jennifer living with her grandparents does not constitute a horizontal nuclear family; it forms an extended family structure.

Question 4

John cohabits with Jane. Jane was previously married to Jack. While Jane was married to Jack, they had two children, Sam and Edith. Sam and Edith now live with John and Jane. This is referred to as a extended nuclear family.

Accepted Answer

This is referred to as a blended family, where two separate families merge into one new unit, often including children from previous marriages or relationships.

Question 5

Marriage is a more or less recent cultural invention in the history of humanity and so should not be equated with families.

Accepted Answer

Marriage is a social institution that has existed in various forms throughout human history. It is not a recent cultural invention.

Question 6

One of the problems with including friends in an inclusive definition of the family is that family is an acquired status and friends are ascribed.

Accepted Answer

Family is typically considered an ascribed status (one is born into it), while friendships are acquired statuses, chosen and developed through personal interactions.

Question 7

Political economy perspectives analyze social inequalities within the context of the historical development of the economy.

Accepted Answer

Political economy perspectives indeed focus on analyzing social inequalities by considering the historical development and structural aspects of the economy, emphasizing how economic systems and policies shape societal disparities.

Question 8

A functionalist perspective differs from a political economy perspective in that social change is a necessitated.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A functionalist perspective differs from a political...

Question 9

A social construct is a socially accepted definition of a situation; it is a cultural interpretation.

Accepted Answer

Social constructs are concepts that exist not because of an inherent natural reality but because of human agreement and interpretation. They are understood within cultural contexts and can vary widely between different societies and over time.

Question 10

The following statement is an example of social stratification by gender: The household division of labour is still largely unequal in that it gives more flexibility to males because they can choose the activities they engage in at home.

Accepted Answer

This statement exemplifies social stratification by gender as it highlights the unequal distribution of household responsibilities based on gender roles, where males have more choices and flexibility in their domestic engagements compared to females.

Question 11

An important feature of the developmental perspective in family studies is the emphasis it places on cross-sectional analysis.

Accepted Answer

The developmental perspective in family studies emphasizes longitudinal analysis to understand how families change and develop over time, rather than cross-sectional analysis which examines different families at a single point in time.

Question 12

Symbolic interactionism emphasizes the formation of meanings and self-concept.

Accepted Answer

Symbolic interactionism is a sociological perspective that focuses on how individuals create and interpret meanings in their social interactions, influencing their self-concept and identity formation through communication and symbols.

Question 13

The analysis of motherhood as a social product rather than as a purely natural product is the focus of the behaviour genetics perspective.

Accepted Answer

The analysis of motherhood as a social product rather than as a purely natural product is typically the focus of sociological and feminist perspectives, not behavior genetics. Behavior genetics focuses on understanding how genetic and environmental factors influence behaviors.

Question 14

Quantitative research methods are more scientific than qualitative research methods.

Accepted Answer

Both quantitative and qualitative research methods are scientific; they simply focus on different aspects of research and have different strengths and applications. Quantitative research is more about quantifying relationships, testing hypotheses, and making predictions, while qualitative research focuses on understanding concepts, thoughts, and experiences from a more detailed and holistic perspective.

Question 15

A statistical survey is an example of qualitative research data.

Accepted Answer

A statistical survey is an example of quantitative research data because it focuses on gathering numerical data and statistics.

Question 16

A society transmits its values and traditions to the next generation through the process of

Accepted Answer

Socialization is the process through which individuals learn and internalize the values, beliefs, norms, and social practices of their culture and society, enabling them to function as members of that society.

Question 17

The minimum requirement to meet the definition of the family consists of

Accepted Answer

A family is typically defined as a group consisting of two or more related generations living together in one household.

Question 18

A horizontal family

Accepted Answer

Horizontal families consist of members from the same generation living together, such as siblings or cousins, without the presence of parents or grandparents.

Question 19

Juanita lives with her mother part of the time but spends weekends and holidays with her father. She is living in

Accepted Answer

A binuclear family consists of family members living in two separate households, typically following divorce or separation, where children split their time between their parents' homes. Juanita's living situation, where she lives part-time with her mother and part-time with her father, fits this definition.

Question 20

Fictive kinship refers to

Accepted Answer

Fictive kinship is a term used to describe relationships among individuals who are not related by blood or marriage but are considered to be family members because of their emotional or social connections. This includes people who are treated as uncles, aunts, or cousins, even though they do not have a legal or biological relationship to the family.

Quiz 1: Introduction to Family Studies