Some students at a college form an intramural softball team.They play other teams from their school and from the area every Sunday in a conveniently located park.What might a sociologist consider if he or she wanted to determine whether the team was a primary group or a secondary group?
A) the age of the players
B) the interactions of team members off the field
C) the shared hobbies of the players
D) the innate skill of the players

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A sociologist would consider the interactions of team members off the field because primary groups are characterized by close, emotional bonds and frequent, intimate interactions, even outside of the group setting, while secondary groups are more formal and impersonal, with specific goals and roles. Knowing whether the team members only interact during games or have strong personal relationships outside of the team would help determine whether the group is primary or secondary. The age, shared hobbies, and innate skill of the players are not necessarily indicators of primary or secondary groups.

Some Students at a College Form an Intramural Softball Team