Question 1

What do sociologists call patterns of interaction between groups and individuals?
A) rationalization
B) group dynamics
C) in-group solidarity
D) anomie

Accepted Answer

Sociologists call patterns of interaction between groups and individuals "group dynamics."

Question 2

The definition of what constitutes a group is being transformed as a result of new technology and the Digital Age.Which of the following is evidence of this?
A) websites
B) Reddit subgroups
C) self-help groups
D) civic groups

Accepted Answer

The answer of The definition of what constitutes a group...

Question 3

In one nation's campaign to improve public health in rural areas,one key challenge was to convince isolated villagers to boil their drinking water in order to kill parasites.The only families who adopted the practice were not well integrated into the village and had few connections to their neighbors.What does this example demonstrate?
A) There is a need for more virtual communities around the world.
B) Social ties don't just connect us to others but also influence our behavior.
C) Attempts at modernization largely fail without modern technology.
D) Globalization leads to the McDonaldization of society.

Accepted Answer

The example demonstrates that social ties, or the lack thereof, influenced the behavior of the villagers in adopting the practice of boiling their drinking water. The only families who did adopt the practice were those who were not well integrated into the community, indicating that social connections play a significant role in shaping behavior. The other options are not supported by the given example.

Question 4

What do we call groups that are used as standards to evaluate ourselves-either positively,in terms of the qualities we aspire to achieve,or negatively,in terms of the qualities we wish to avoid?
A) reference groups
B) out-groups
C) in-groups
D) networks

Accepted Answer

Reference groups are groups that individuals use as a standard to evaluate themselves, either positively or negatively. These groups can be aspirational (positive) or avoidance (negative), and may be either specific individuals or generalized groups such as celebrities or professions. Out-groups and in-groups refer to the groups to which an individual does or does not belong, and networks describe the relationships between individuals or groups.

Question 5

When people attend high school class reunions,they often compare their own personal and professional successes and failures with those of their former classmates.This means that classmates are a(n)________ group.
A) reference
B) secondary
C) professional
D) identity

Accepted Answer

Classmates are typically considered a reference group because individuals tend to compare themselves and their achievements to those of their peers in order to determine their own sense of success and self-worth.

Question 6

Why would sociologists who study social networks and employment pay attention to the frequency with which a person has been in contact with each member of his or her social network?
A) to measure the anomie of the network
B) to determine if groupthink occurred in a social network
C) to see if a particular tie is strong or weak
D) to see just how extensive the network is

Accepted Answer

Sociologists studying social networks and employment are interested in the strength of ties between individuals in a person's network. The frequency with which a person has been in contact with each member of their network can help determine if a particular tie is strong or weak. Strong ties are important for employment opportunities as they typically provide more valuable job leads and recommendations. Therefore, this information can be crucial for understanding the role of social networks in employment.

Question 7

In Los Angeles you may see cars sporting a bumper sticker that reads,"My favorite teams are UCLA and whoever's playing USC." What is this an example of?
A) group dynamics
B) hostility toward an out-group
C) bureaucratic rationalization
D) the use of a reference group

Accepted Answer

This is an example of hostility toward an out-group, in this case USC. The bumper sticker implies that the person supports UCLA and any team playing against USC, and therefore views USC as a rival or enemy.

Question 8

Mark Granovetter has argued that the people you know best are likely to possess only information you already have.This is why he believed that when looking for employment,it is advantageous to have
A) a commitment to hard work and determination to succeed.
B) casual acquaintances who are connected to different social networks.
C) a prestigious education in order to gain access to lucrative occupations.
D) a high degree of cultural and social capital.

Accepted Answer

Granovetter's theory of "the strength of weak ties" suggests that individuals who have casual acquaintances or weak ties with people in different social networks are more likely to have access to new or novel information and resources, such as job opportunities, compared to individuals who only have strong ties with people in their own social network. Therefore, having casual acquaintances who are connected to different social networks can be advantageous when looking for employment.

Question 9

Social networks can influence people through contagion.What does that mean?
A) Connections that lead to disease or infection are called contagion according to sociologists.
B) Social networks are contagious given that they tend to mimic each other over the long run.
C) This borrows from a biological model, in that people who are weak are likely to "catch" the influence of their social network.
D) People who are connected to social networks are more likely to be affected by them.

Accepted Answer

"Contagion" in this context refers to the idea that people are affected by the behavior, attitudes, and emotions of those in their social network. Therefore, people who are connected to social networks are more likely to be influenced by them, making option D the best choice. Option A is incorrect because it refers to contagion in a medical sense rather than a sociological sense. Option B is incorrect as it over-generalizes the idea of social influence. Option C is partially correct, but it oversimplifies the concept by suggesting that only weaker individuals are susceptible to contagion.

Question 10

Robert Merton suggested that some white Americans who praise Abraham Lincoln for being frugal and thrifty might describe an Asian American with the same qualities as being stingy and penny pinching.What explains this double standard?
A) Standards of behavior considered appropriate in Lincoln's time are now looked down upon because of historical change.
B) Lincoln was miserly, but he is remembered differently because American textbooks are not permitted to say negative things about presidents.
C) Lincoln was a truly remarkable individual who acted in these ways for selfless reasons, something everyday people can't hope to do.
D) For these white Americans, Lincoln was a member of their racial in-group, whereas an Asian American would be a member of an out-group.

Accepted Answer

The double standard can be explained by ingroup/outgroup bias. The white Americans may view Lincoln as a member of their racial in-group and therefore attribute positive qualities to him, while viewing the Asian American as a member of an out-group and thus attributing negative qualities to them. This is a result of social categorization and can lead to stereotypes and prejudice.

Question 11

Robert Putnam's research can be exemplified by his description of a decline in bowling leagues.Which of the following might serve as evidence that Putnam's concerns about anomie are overblown?
A) the increasing number of hours people spend with electronic media
B) the decline of movie theaters and the subsequent rise of services like Netflix
C) the sharp spike in suicide rates in eastern Europe over the past two decades
D) the growth of online support groups to help people with rare diseases share information and find emotional support

Accepted Answer

The growth of online support groups suggests that people are still seeking social connections and support, even if they are not participating in traditional social organizations like bowling leagues. This evidence contradicts Putnam's concerns about a decline in social capital and suggests that people are finding new and innovative ways to connect with each other.

Question 12

Members of a table tennis club in upstate New York seem to have come together as much for connections with others as for the love of the game.This club can be viewed as a counterpoint to the message of Robert Putnam's Bowling Alone because it is an example of
A) the way we continue to be socialized by the media in adulthood.
B) a type of civic engagement that brings people together.
C) the strength of weak ties.
D) the importance of primary groups in our social lives.

Accepted Answer

This club represents a form of civic engagement where people come together for a shared interest and build connections with each other. This is in contrast to Putnam's Bowling Alone, which highlights the decline of social capital and civic engagement in modern society.

Question 13

How have social networking websites affected social groups?
A) They diminish the importance of primary groups but not secondary groups.
B) They expand primary groups to include many more members than before.
C) They minimize the importance of secondary groups, especially those associated with shared interests.
D) They help people make the most of both their primary and secondary groups.

Accepted Answer

Social networking websites have facilitated connections and interactions within both primary (close, personal relationships) and secondary (more formal, impersonal) groups, enhancing the ability to maintain and cultivate these relationships.

Question 14

Émile Durkheim worried that individuals would feel less and less connected to groups in an increasingly fragmented modern world,which would lead to
A) the rise of hate groups.
B) a need for new types of etiquette.
C) anomie or normlessness.
D) unemployment.

Accepted Answer

Durkheim believed that as society became more complex and individualistic, people would experience a sense of anomie or normlessness. This is because traditional norms and values would no longer provide clear guidance for behavior, leading to a sense of disorientation and alienation from society. This could lead to a variety of negative outcomes, including social unrest and even suicide, as individuals struggle to find their place in a changing world.

Question 15

What do sociologists call a group that provides standards by which an individual can judge his or her own accomplishments?
A) a secondary group
B) a social network
C) a reference group
D) a primary group

Accepted Answer

Sociologists call a group that provides standards by which an individual can judge his or her own accomplishments a "reference group." Reference groups are groups that people compare themselves to in order to evaluate their own behavior and social standing. They may be real or imaginary, and can be composed of people we know personally or those we only know through media or other forms of communication.

Question 16

What kind of group consists of group members who share information and advice,provide support to one another,and have common interests,but never meet in person?
A) a reference group
B) a social network
C) a secondary group
D) a virtual community

Accepted Answer

A virtual community is a group of people who interact primarily through online communication, such as social media platforms, forums, and chat rooms. They can share information, advice, and support each other, but they may never meet in person. Therefore, option D is the correct answer. A reference group, on the other hand, refers to a group of people who individuals use as a standard for evaluating themselves and their behavior. A social network is a broader term and includes all types of social connections, both online and offline. A secondary group refers to a formal, impersonal group where individuals come together to achieve a specific goal.

Question 17

According to Robert Putnam,what does the decline in bowling leagues indicate?
A) an increase in anomie and decline in collective bonds
B) a shift from secondary groups to primary groups
C) the increasing irrelevance of reference groups
D) a decline in physical exercise and increase in inactive lifestyles due to electronic media

Accepted Answer

Robert Putnam argues that the decline in bowling leagues is indicative of a broader decline in collective bonds and social capital, leading to feelings of anomie and individualism. Bowling leagues used to be a common way for people to connect with each other and build social networks, but as they have declined, so too have opportunities for social interaction and community building. This has led to a sense of disconnectedness and isolation among many Americans, which is reflected in broader social trends and issues facing the country.

Question 18

Simon Langlois studied government employment in Quebec.He found that even though the government had made efforts to formalize recruitment,more than 40 percent of the people he surveyed found their jobs through personal contacts.In the majority of cases,the personal contacts were fairly casual acquaintances,not close friends.What principle is demonstrated here?
A) the strength of weak ties
B) the power of strong triads
C) the role of group cohesion
D) the power of groupthink

Accepted Answer

Simon Langlois' research demonstrates the strength of weak ties. This principle suggests that people are more likely to find new information and opportunities through their weak ties (casual acquaintances, acquaintances of acquaintances) rather than their strong ties (close friends and family). In this case, people were more likely to find government employment through their casual acquaintances rather than their close friends, which highlights the power of weak ties.

Question 19

In terms of job leads and social networks,how are men's networks different from women's?
A) Women are more likely to hear about quality job openings if their social networks are composed of more women than men.
B) Women are less likely to hear about quality job openings if their social networks are composed of more women than men.
C) Men are less likely to hear about quality job openings if their social networks are composed of more men than women.
D) Women are less likely to hear about quality job openings if their social networks are composed of more men than women.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that women are less likely to hear about quality job openings if their social networks are composed of more women than men, due to the historically male-dominated nature of many industries and the higher likelihood of men having access to influential job leads.

Question 20

Although individuals always feel loyalty toward their in-group,under what circumstances would this loyalty be particularly strong?
A) when the in-group is particularly large
B) when the individual has belonged to the in-group for a short time
C) when the out-group is from another city than the in-group
D) when the differences between the in-group and the out-group are sharply defined

Accepted Answer

When the differences between the in-group and out-group are sharply defined, individuals tend to perceive members of the out-group as being more different from themselves and their own group, thus strengthening their loyalty toward their in-group. The other options are unlikely to significantly impact the strength of loyalty toward the in-group.

Quiz 5: Separate and Together: Life in Group

What do sociologists call patterns of interaction between groups and individuals?

The definition of what constitutes a group is being transformed as a result of new technology and the Digital Age.Which of the following is evidence of this?

What do we call groups that are used as standards to evaluate ourselves-either positively,in terms of the qualities we aspire to achieve,or negatively,in terms of the qualities we wish to avoid?

When people attend high school class reunions,they often compare their own personal and professional successes and failures with those of their former classmates.This means that classmates are a(n) ________ group.

Why would sociologists who study social networks and employment pay attention to the frequency with which a person has been in contact with each member of his or her social network?

In Los Angeles you may see cars sporting a bumper sticker that reads,"My favorite teams are UCLA and whoever's playing USC." What is this an example of?

Mark Granovetter has argued that the people you know best are likely to possess only information you already have.This is why he believed that when looking for employment,it is advantageous to have

Social networks can influence people through contagion.What does that mean?

Robert Merton suggested that some white Americans who praise Abraham Lincoln for being frugal and thrifty might describe an Asian American with the same qualities as being stingy and penny pinching.What explains this double standard?

Robert Putnam's research can be exemplified by his description of a decline in bowling leagues.Which of the following might serve as evidence that Putnam's concerns about anomie are overblown?

Members of a table tennis club in upstate New York seem to have come together as much for connections with others as for the love of the game.This club can be viewed as a counterpoint to the message of Robert Putnam's Bowling Alone because it is an example of

How have social networking websites affected social groups?

Émile Durkheim worried that individuals would feel less and less connected to groups in an increasingly fragmented modern world,which would lead to

What do sociologists call a group that provides standards by which an individual can judge his or her own accomplishments?

What kind of group consists of group members who share information and advice,provide support to one another,and have common interests,but never meet in person?

According to Robert Putnam,what does the decline in bowling leagues indicate?

In terms of job leads and social networks,how are men's networks different from women's?

Although individuals always feel loyalty toward their in-group,under what circumstances would this loyalty be particularly strong?