Question 1

What term do sociologists use to refer to a number of people who may never have met one another but are all the same age (e.g. ,22 years old)?

Accepted Answer

A category is a collection of individuals who share a common characteristic, such as age, but do not necessarily interact or have a sense of belonging together.

Question 2

What is a collection of people gathered in a city park on a Sunday afternoon in July?

Accepted Answer

An aggregate refers to a collection of individuals who are physically present in the same place at the same time but do not interact with each other or share any common identity or interest. A group gathered in a park on a Sunday afternoon in July would likely be an example of an aggregate.

Question 3

Laurie struggles to fit in with the popular girls at her school.What kind of group is Laurie in?

Accepted Answer

Laurie is in an outgroup because she is not a part of the popular girls' group, which is the ingroup.

Question 4

What term best describes the Canadian federal government?

Accepted Answer

The Canadian federal government is a formal organization as it has a clearly defined structure, authority, and rules of functioning, and it is responsible for providing various public services and performing specific tasks. It also employs a large number of people and has a hierarchy of positions and responsibilities. The other options do not accurately describe the Canadian federal government.

Question 5

What is a collection of two or more people who interact frequently with one another,share a sense of belonging,and have a feeling of interdependence?

Accepted Answer

A social group is defined as a collection of two or more individuals who interact frequently with one another, share a sense of belonging, and have a feeling of interdependence. An aggregate refers to a collection of people who happen to be in the same place at the same time but do not necessarily interact or share a sense of belonging. A category refers to a group of individuals who share a common status but may not interact or have a sense of interdependence. A secondary group refers to a group that is formed for a specific purpose and is not necessarily based on a sense of belonging or interdependence.

Question 6

What name do sociologists give to webs of social relationships that link one person with other people and through them with more people those people know?

Accepted Answer

Sociologists refer to these webs of social relationships as networks. A network is a set of links between individuals or organizations that connect them in a variety of ways, including friendship, kinship, work, or other types of relationships. These networks can be analyzed to understand patterns of social interaction, influence, and communication within a community or society.

Question 7

Suppose a person does not belong and perhaps even feels a sense of competitiveness or hostility toward others.What kind of group is this person likely a part of?

Accepted Answer

This person is likely a part of an outgroup, as they feel a sense of competitiveness or hostility toward others and do not feel that they belong. Ingroups are groups that people feel they belong to and identify with, while outgroups are groups that people do not feel a sense of belonging or identification with. Secondary groups are larger, more impersonal groups that are formed for a specific purpose, while reference groups are groups that people use as a standard for evaluating themselves and their behavior. Neither of these options fit the description given in the question.

Question 8

Who coined the terms ingroup and outgroup to describe people's feelings toward members of their own and other groups?

Accepted Answer

William Graham Sumner coined the terms ingroup and outgroup to describe people's feelings toward members of their own and other groups.

Question 9

You are asked by your professor in sociology to write a short paragraph about the relationship between primary and secondary groups.Which of the following statements is most likely to appear in your short essay?

Accepted Answer

A secondary group may eventually form a primary group as relationships become more personal and intimate. Primary groups are typically small and based on personal relationships, while secondary groups are typically larger and based on shared interests or goals. The distinction between primary and secondary groups can be fluid, and groups can shift from one category to the other over time. For example, a work team may start as a secondary group, but if the members develop close personal friendships, the group may become more of a primary group.

Question 10

Kurt feels a part of his high school football team and has a reputation as a star quarterback.What kind of group is the football team for Kurt?

Accepted Answer

The football team is an ingroup for Kurt because he feels connected to it and has a positive reputation within the group.

Question 11

According to sociologists,what is a social group?

Accepted Answer

Sociologists define a social group as a collection of two or more people who interact frequently with one another, share a sense of belonging, and have a feeling of interdependence. This definition emphasizes the importance of social interaction, shared identification, and mutual reliance in defining social groups. A social group can include families, friendship circles, work teams, clubs, and other collectives that meet these criteria.

Question 12

Annie and her older brother Jack form primary relationships.According to Cooley,what role do they occupy for each other within this primary group?

Accepted Answer

Cooley's concept of "significant others" refers to individuals who have significant influence on our self-concept and behavior. In a primary group such as Annie and Jack's sibling relationship, they occupy the role of significant others for each other.

Question 13

What is a reference group?

Accepted Answer

A reference group is a group that strongly influences a person's behaviour and social attitudes, regardless of whether that individual is an actual member. This group can be aspirational (one that the individual wishes to join), dissociative (one that the individual does not wish to join), or actual (one that the individual belongs to). Reference groups can be important in shaping an individual's beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours, as they provide a point of comparison and social validation.

Question 14

What kind of group are patrons in a restaurant and passengers on a train examples of?

Accepted Answer

Patrons in a restaurant and passengers on a train are examples of an aggregate, which refers to a collection of people who are in the same place at the same time but do not necessarily interact or identify with each other.

Question 15

What term did sociologist Charles H.Cooley use to describe a small,less specialized group in which members engage in face-to-face,emotion-based interactions over an extended period of time?

Accepted Answer

Sociologist Charles H. Cooley used the term "primary group" to refer to a small, less specialized group in which members engage in face-to-face, emotion-based interactions over an extended period of time. A primary group is characterized by strong ties of intimacy, loyalty, and mutual support, and typically involves family, close friends, and other closely-knit social relationships. In contrast, a secondary group is a larger and more formal organization that is characterized by weaker ties and more specialized roles, such as an academic department, a political party, or a sports team. Significant others, on the other hand, are individuals who have a significant impact on our lives, such as parents, spouses, and close friends, but do not necessarily belong to a primary group.

Question 16

The "jocks" and the members of the chess club at a local high school seldom speak to one another.Which of the following terms best reflects this situation?

Accepted Answer

The use of "us" and "them" suggests a clear division between two groups, in this case the "jocks" and the members of the chess club. This type of language implies a lack of communication and unity between the two groups.

Question 17

Which term applies to people who are the same age,race,and gender,and who share the same educational level?

Accepted Answer

This describes a category, which is a group of people who share similar attributes such as age, race, gender, or education level. They do not necessarily interact with each other or have a collective identity, unlike a social group. They also do not have a formal structure or membership requirements like a formal organization. An aggregate refers to a collection of individuals who happen to be in the same place at the same time, but may not share any common characteristics.

Question 18

What kind of group is a larger,more specialized grouping in which the members engage in more impersonal,goal-oriented relationships for a limited period of time?

Accepted Answer

A secondary group is a larger, more specialized grouping in which the members engage in more impersonal, goal-oriented relationships for a limited period of time. Secondary groups may include things like work groups or project teams, where people come together to accomplish a specific task or objective but may not have the same level of intimacy or emotional connection as a primary group or kinship group.

Question 19

Which statement best describes Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo in 1815?

Accepted Answer

Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo highlighted the importance of adapting military strategies and organizational structures to changing conditions, such as the coalition forces' effective coordination and tactics.

Question 20

What is a potential consequence of Phyllis belonging to a monthly book club,the parent-teacher association at her son's school,and the bridge club at her work?

Accepted Answer

Belonging to multiple groups can lead to conflicting messages about how Phyllis should view herself. Each group may have different expectations and values, which can cause confusion for Phyllis. This can also create pressure for her to conform to each group's expectations, potentially leading to a loss of individuality.

Quiz 6: Groups and Organizations

What term do sociologists use to refer to a number of people who may never have met one another but are all the same age (e.g. ,22 years old) ?