Essentials of Sociology 5th Edition By Anthony Giddens – Test Bank

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CHAPTER 5: Groups, Networks, and Organizations

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1.Which of the following is a social group?

a.	a brother and sister
b.	everyone in your sociology class who has blond hair
c.	people waiting at Terminal C for Flight 181
d.	passengers on a cruise ship

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ: Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior. MSC: Applying

2.The rich and varied group life of societies reflects:

a.	how dependent we are on transactional leaders
b.	our need to congregate and belong
c.	how we tend to live in social isolation
d.	our natural tendency to always include everyone

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ:Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior.MSC:Understanding

3.Which of the following is a social aggregate?

a.	your family
b.	middle-class Asian American women
c.	people waiting at Terminal C for Flight 205
d.	Facebook friends

ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ: Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior. MSC: Applying

4.People milling around in crowds, waiting for a bus, or strolling on a beach make up a:

a.	social group	c.	social aggregate
b.	social triad	d.	social category

ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ:Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior.MSC:Understanding

5.When a group of people share common characteristics, such as gender or ethnicity, the group is labeled a:

a.	social network	c.	social category
b.	social group	d.	social aggregate

ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ:Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior.MSC:Remembering

6.Which of the following would be considered a social category?

a.	African Americans
b.	a group of soldiers who recently returned from war
c.	neighbors who are both Mexican American
d.	two friends who are freshmen at the same college

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ:Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior.MSC:Understanding

7.Which of the following is more likely to be an in-group?

a.	a family	c.	the people in line at a supermarket
b.	a sociology class	d.	Asian Americans

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ: Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior. MSC: Applying

8.At the University of California, the Alpha Gamma Gamma fraternity always made fun of its rival fraternity, Alpha Sigma Sigma, during rush week when the brothers were recruiting new members. This increased the bonding and sense of loyalty among the members of Alpha Gamma Gamma, and therefore we could consider these members of:

a.	an out-group	c.	a network
b.	an in-group	d.	a social category

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ: Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior. MSC: Applying

9.A new group recently emerged, calling itself the Real Americans. This group’s activities reflect disdain and prejudicial attitudes toward recent immigrants to the United States. In relation to this group, recent immigrants could be classified as a(n):

a.	in-group	c.	dyad
b.	out-group	d.	triad

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ:Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior.MSC:Understanding

10.A brother and sister enrolled in a large chemistry class would be considered a(n):

a.	triad	c.	secondary group
b.	primary group	d.	social category

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ:Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior.MSC:Understanding

11.Which of the following is an example of a primary group?

a.	a professor and the president of the university
b.	a bus driver and passenger
c.	a tutor and her student
d.	three best friends in high school

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ: Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior. MSC: Applying

12.Which of the following would be an example of why a person would want to be part of a secondary group?

a.	to form close bonds and ties with everyone in the group
b.	to have a sense of closeness and camaraderie
c.	to associate with people who care about the person and his or her future
d.	to accomplish a specific goal, such as graduating from college

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ: Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior. MSC: Applying

13.Shelley spends most of her time at school and work, which leaves her with little time to socialize with her family and friends. Lately, Shelley is feeling socially isolated because she:

a.	is working too hard
b.	has friends and family who do not understand her time commitments
c.	does not like the people at school and work
d.	is interacting mostly with people in secondary groups, which tend to be large and produce impersonal relationships

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ: Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior. MSC: Applying

14.The group a person uses to measure his or her own social worth is called:

a.	a reference group	c.	a peer group
b.	a social aggregate	d.	a secondary group

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ:Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior.MSC:Remembering

15.Reference groups provide us with:

a.	the ability to be concerned with accomplishing a task
b.	strict conformity to rigid organizational structures
c.	the impersonal anonymity of modern life
d.	a standard for judging our attitudes and behaviors

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ:Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior.MSC:Remembering

16.Most advertisements today try to associate a product with a specific reference group. For this marketing strategy to be effective, which of the following must be true?

a.	The product must be important to the person viewing the advertisement.
b.	The product must have a good price.
c.	The person viewing the advertisement must have interacted with the person or people in the advertisement.
d.	The person viewing the advertisement must identify with the person or people in the advertisement.

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Difficult REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ: Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior. MSC: Applying

17.According to sociologists, what is the smallest size that can make up a social group?

a.	a dyad	c.	a triad
b.	an ego and an alter ego	d.	a family

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ:Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior.MSC:Remembering

18.Juan and Sally got divorced after three years of marriage, and both moved on to establish new relationships. Their divorce demonstrates that dyads are fragile social groups because:

a.	if one person leaves, the group disappears
b.	one member can hurt the other
c.	they do not require individuals to stay in the relationship
d.	the relationships are too intense

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ:Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior.MSC:Understanding

19.Every Sunday, Janet, Laneitha, and Margaret get together for lunch, and Janet usually decides which restaurant they will eat at. However, one Sunday, Laneitha and Margaret told Janet they wanted to try a new restaurant in town. Laneitha and Margaret formed a:

a.	rift between the triad	c.	dyad
b.	negative relationship	d.	coalition or alliance

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Difficult REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ: Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior. MSC: Applying

20.Triads are generally more stable than dyads because:

a.	three are always better than two
b.	the third person relieves some of the pressures on the other two
c.	the third person makes the relationship more intense
d.	the third person can get jealous

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ:Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior.MSC:Remembering

21.Which of the following is true regarding large groups?

a.	Relationships in the group are more intense.
b.	They tend to be informal.
c.	They are unstable.
d.	They tend to be more exclusive.

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ:Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior.MSC:Remembering

22.According to Georg Simmel, an important aspect of groups is:

a.	as group size decreases, their intensity and exclusivity decrease
b.	as group size increases, their stability and intensity increase
c.	as group size increases, their intensity decreases, but their stability and exclusivity increase
d.	group size has little impact on stability over time; what matters is the common goal of the group

ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Difficult REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ:Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior.MSC:Remembering

23.The members of the drama club at Suzie’s high school had a disagreement about who should play the lead in the upcoming production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Therefore, five of the twenty-five drama club members decided to leave the group, but this had little impact on the stability of the drama club, and it was able to go forward with the production, according to the textbook, because:

a.	the drama club had a good leader who was able to address the instability in the group
b.	larger groups are less exclusive, and it was easy to get new members
c.	the five members who left were troublemakers
d.	the withdrawal of members from larger groups has little impact on the survival of the group

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ: Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior. MSC: Applying

24.Nelson Mandela directed the dissolution of apartheid in South Africa. What kind of leader was he?

a.	Mandela was a transformational leader.	c.	Mandela was a despot.
b.	Mandela was a transactional leader.	d.	Mandela was an autocratic leader.

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ:Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior.MSC:Remembering

25.Which of the following is the best example of a transformational leader?

a.	a student government president who motivated the students at her college to turn their campus into a green campus
b.	a student government president who made sure the treasurer accounted for all the money spent by the student government at her college
c.	a student government president who expanded the campus recycling program to include paper as well as metal
d.	a student government president whom most students really liked

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ:Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior.MSC:Understanding

26.Tanya is the CEO of Digi-Corp, a corporation that specializes in computer software. The corporation has made a substantial profit since Tanya became CEO and hired new software designers. What type of leader is Tanya?

a.	bureaucratic	c.	transformational
b.	transactional	d.	network

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ: Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior. MSC: Applying

27.Solomon Asch’s experiment illustrated that:

a.	even if it makes them feel uncomfortable, many people are willing to discount their own perceptions rather than go against group consensus
b.	people stammered and fidgeted before speaking out against group conformity
c.	people can easily be bullied into changing their minds
d.	the last person to answer did not feel the need to conform or bow to group pressure

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ:Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior.MSC:Remembering

28.The experiments by Solomon Asch and Stanley Milgram illustrate that:

a.	conformity and authority have little influence on people when they are under pressure
b.	people get nervous around authority figures and large groups
c.	conformity and authority are powerful factors affecting people’s actions
d.	it is easy to persuade people to inflict pain on others

ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ:Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior.MSC:Remembering

29.The Stanley Milgram study demonstrated that people are willing to obey authority:

a.	regardless of the pain they might inflict on others
b.	only when they feel that the authority figure is part of their primary group
c.	when the authority figure is part of their reference group
d.	if the orders do not have negative consequences for other people

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ:Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior.MSC:Remembering

30.Stanley Milgram’s study demonstrated that even in extraordinary situations, ordinary people will:

a.	conform to the directives of transformative leaders
b.	resist authority
c.	obey those in positions of power
d.	exclude others

ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ:Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior.MSC:Remembering

31.Groupthink takes place when:

a.	group members discuss strategies to increase group harmony
b.	group members work together to carefully weigh all the options presented to them
c.	group members ignore the actions, plans, or ideas that go against group consensus
d.	group members are all in agreement

ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ:Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior.MSC:Remembering

32.The football team at Three Rivers High School wanted to steal the mascot—a horse—of the opposing team before the big homecoming game. Even though the captain of the football team knew the players would likely be caught and suspended by the principal, he agreed to steal the mascot. Why did the captain of the team agree to steal the mascot?

a.	The football captain was a transformational leader and convinced the players it would work even when common sense told them it would not.
b.	The groupthink of the football team made him uncomfortable, but he felt it was more important that there not be dissension before the homecoming game.
c.	The team captain feared that he would no longer be accepted in his social group for breaking expectations.
d.	The team captain and the players were part of the same primary group and wanted to think and play as a “we.”

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Difficult REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ: Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior. MSC: Applying

33.In general, nonwhites tend to have ________ ties within networks than whites.

a.	weaker	c.	more consistent
b.	more familial	d.	more social

ANS:APTS:1DIF:Easy

REF:How Do We Benefit from Social Networks?

OBJ: Understand the importance of social networks and the advantages they confer on some people.

MSC:Remembering

34.James and Shannon both graduated from college with a high GPA and a good résumé in the field of accounting. A year after graduation, James was working as a waiter, and Shannon was working at an accounting firm that her father’s best friend headed. Shannon most likely got this job because:

a.	she had an advantage due to her father’s social networks, even if she did not know her father’s best friend well
b.	she had a better résumé than James.
c.	her father’s best friend thought she was pretty
d.	James was unmotivated and did not look for work very hard

ANS:APTS:1DIF:Moderate

REF:How Do We Benefit from Social Networks?

OBJ: Understand the importance of social networks and the advantages they confer on some people.

MSC:Understanding

35.In the absence of the physical and social cues involved in traditional face-to-face interactions, the Internet fosters the creation of relationships that:

a.	are often misleading and lead to hurt feelings
b.	are built on common interests rather than social characteristics, such as race and gender
c.	are lasting and enduring
d.	are based on being members of the same social category

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:Moderate

REF:How Do We Benefit from Social Networks?

OBJ: Understand the importance of social networks and the advantages they confer on some people.

MSC:Remembering

36.The Internet often increases the diversity of one’s social networks beyond face-to-face interactions, which tend to limit social networks due to race, gender, and social status. However, the Internet can also limit the diversity of social networks for some people because:

a.	it is easy to find out someone’s gender, race, or social status on the Internet
b.	there is a “digital divide” in which low-income and ethnic minorities are less likely to have access to the Internet
c.	there are many racist and sexist groups that use the Internet to organize
d.	studies show that people tend to form networks on the Internet based on race, gender, and class instead of shared interests

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:Moderate

REF:How Do We Benefit from Social Networks?

OBJ: Understand the importance of social networks and the advantages they confer on some people.

MSC:Understanding

37.What term do sociologists use to refer to a group with an identifiable membership that engages in concerted collective actions to achieve a common purpose?

a.	primary group	c.	in-group
b.	secondary group	d.	organization out-group

ANS:DPTS:1DIF:Easy

REF:How Do Organizations Function?

OBJ: Know how to define an organization and understand how organizations developed over the last two centuries. Learn Max Weber’s theory of organizations and view of bureaucracy.

MSC:Remembering

38.A large grouping of people that engages in concerted collective actions to achieve specific objectives is called:

a.	an oligarchy	c.	a primary group
b.	an organization	d.	a peer group

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:Easy

REF:How Do Organizations Function?

OBJ: Know how to define an organization and understand how organizations developed over the last two centuries. Learn Max Weber’s theory of organizations and view of bureaucracy.

MSC:Remembering

39.People in modern societies depend on organizations to:

a.	tell us how to act and behave
b.	make us feel connected to others
c.	take care of everything, including how we are born, our daily supply of running water, and even the way we die
d.	educate and employ us, but little else

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:Moderate

REF:How Do Organizations Function?

OBJ: Know how to define an organization and understand how organizations developed over the last two centuries. Learn Max Weber’s theory of organizations and view of bureaucracy.

MSC:Understanding

40.Max Weber was the first to develop a systematic interpretation of:

a.	conformity	c.	modern organizations
b.	primary groups	d.	secondary groups

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:Easy

REF:How Do Organizations Function?

OBJ: Know how to define an organization and understand how organizations developed over the last two centuries. Learn Max Weber’s theory of organizations and view of bureaucracy.

MSC:Remembering

41.Formal organizations:

a.	are organized in ways that allow power to be evenly distributed within them
b.	are often flexible in the application of their rules, regulations, and procedures due to their size
c.	have risen to prominence in modern societies largely because we do not spend much time with our families anymore
d.	are rationally designed to achieve their objectives

ANS:DPTS:1DIF:Moderate

REF:How Do Organizations Function?

OBJ: Know how to define an organization and understand how organizations developed over the last two centuries. Learn Max Weber’s theory of organizations and view of bureaucracy.

MSC:Remembering

42.Max Weber argued that __________ is necessary in modern societies.

a.	tradition	c.	surveillance
b.	bureaucracy	d.	emotion

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:Easy

REF:How Do Organizations Function?

OBJ: Know how to define an organization and understand how organizations developed over the last two centuries. Learn Max Weber’s theory of organizations and view of bureaucracy.

MSC:Remembering

43.According to Max Weber, which of the following is difficult to achieve in a rigid bureaucratic organization?

a.	efficiency	c.	compliance
b.	rationality	d.	innovation

ANS:DPTS:1DIF:Moderate

REF:How Do Organizations Function?

OBJ: Know how to define an organization and understand how organizations developed over the last two centuries. Learn Max Weber’s theory of organizations and view of bureaucracy.

MSC:Remembering

44.Max Weber believed the more an organization approaches the ideal type of bureaucracy, the more effective it will be in pursuing the objectives for which it was established. However, he also recognized that bureaucracies can create some negatives, such as:

a.	numerous unofficial ways of doing things because of the lack of flexibility in completing tasks in a bureaucracy
b.	inefficiency because of the strict adherence to rules and regulations that makes it difficult to respond to new issues
c.	organizational tension between male authority figures and female subordinates
d.	increasing employee salary costs

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:Difficult

REF:How Do Organizations Function?

OBJ: Know how to define an organization and understand how organizations developed over the last two centuries. Learn Max Weber’s theory of organizations and view of bureaucracy.

MSC:Understanding

45.Max Weber concluded that the closer bureaucracies were to the ideal type, the more __________ they would become.

a.	ineffective in achieving their objectives
b.	effective in achieving their objectives
c.	loose and informal
d.	like a feudal estate

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:Easy

REF:How Do Organizations Function?

OBJ: Know how to define an organization and understand how organizations developed over the last two centuries. Learn Max Weber’s theory of organizations and view of bureaucracy.

MSC:Remembering

46.According to Max Weber’s ideal type of bureaucracy:

a.	there is a set of rules that govern the conduct of officials at all levels of the organization
b.	there is a lot of room for innovation
c.	each job has a salary that is negotiable
d.	ownership is in the hands of the workers

ANS:APTS:1DIF:Moderate

REF:How Do Organizations Function?

OBJ: Know how to define an organization and understand how organizations developed over the last two centuries. Learn Max Weber’s theory of organizations and view of bureaucracy.

MSC:Remembering

47.John Meyer and Brian Rowan found that the formal procedures in a bureaucracy are often:

a.	myths that people profess to follow but that have little basis in reality
b.	outdated and need revision
c.	identical to the practices members of the organization adopt
d.	understood to be the “right” way to do things

ANS:APTS:1DIF:Moderate

REF:How Do Organizations Function?

OBJ: Know how to define an organization and understand how organizations developed over the last two centuries. Learn Max Weber’s theory of organizations and view of bureaucracy.

MSC:Understanding

48.At Digi-Corp, each employee receives an employee manual outlining the rules on how employees and managers should work together and interact. These rules are referred to as the __________ between employee and manager.

a.	formal relations	c.	primary groups
b.	informal relations	d.	surveillance

ANS:APTS:1DIF:Easy

REF:How Do Organizations Function?

OBJ: Know how to define an organization and understand how organizations developed over the last two centuries. Learn Max Weber’s theory of organizations and view of bureaucracy.

MSC:Understanding

49.At the Symantec Corporation, the CEO, the president, and the vice president made a majority of the decisions, with little decision-making power given to upper-level managers or other employers. This type of concentration of power among a few people in an organization is called:

a.	oligarchy	c.	capitalism
b.	corporate concentration	d.	anarchy

ANS:APTS:1DIF:Difficult

REF:How Do Organizations Function?

OBJ: Know how to define an organization and understand how organizations developed over the last two centuries. Learn Max Weber’s theory of organizations and view of bureaucracy.

MSC:Understanding

50.According to Robert Michels’s concept of the “iron law of oligarchy”:

a.	Societies dominated by large-scale organizations will turn us all into machines.
b.	In large-scale organizations, power is inevitably concentrated at the top.
c.	Power is concentrated at the bottom in large-scale organizations.
d.	Large-scale organizations will become more concentrated until there are only a few organizations.

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:Easy

REF:How Do Organizations Function?

OBJ: Know how to define an organization and understand how organizations developed over the last two centuries. Learn Max Weber’s theory of organizations and view of bureaucracy.

MSC:Remembering

51.Which of the following best characterizes the place of women in bureaucratic organizations, such as corporations?

a.	Women are encouraged to climb the corporate ladder.
b.	Due to strict rules and regulations, women and men are in equal positions.
c.	Women are seen as playing supporting roles and performing routine tasks.
d.	Most women are in key decision-making roles.

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:Moderate

REF:How Do Organizations Function?

OBJ: Know how to define an organization and understand how organizations developed over the last two centuries. Learn Max Weber’s theory of organizations and view of bureaucracy.

MSC:Understanding

52.Until the late 20th century, organizational studies largely ignored:

a.	organizational size	c.	the physical setting of organizations
b.	dysfunctions of bureaucracy	d.	gender relations

ANS:DPTS:1DIF:Easy

REF:How Do Organizations Function?

OBJ: Know how to define an organization and understand how organizations developed over the last two centuries. Learn Max Weber’s theory of organizations and view of bureaucracy.

MSC:Remembering

53.The imbalance of gender roles in organizations demonstrates that modern organizations have:

a.	encouraged women to stay home
b.	found men to be better at following written rules and procedures
c.	have developed in a gendered way
d.	found maternity to be too expensive

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:Moderate

REF:How Do Organizations Function?

OBJ: Know how to define an organization and understand how organizations developed over the last two centuries. Learn Max Weber’s theory of organizations and view of bureaucracy.

MSC:Remembering

54.Many of the organizations we see in modern society have the hierarchical structure that Max Weber argued characterizes modern organizations. However, according to the textbook, today many organizations are changing to a more __________ structure.

a.	free-flowing	c.	formal
b.	horizontal	d.	bottom-up

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:Moderate

REF:Is Bureaucracy an Outdated Model?

OBJ: Know how to define an organization and understand how organizations developed over the last two centuries. Learn Max Weber’s theory of organizations and view of bureaucracy.

MSC:Remembering

55.According to human resources management theory, which of the following is central to a company’s competitiveness?

a.	employee dedication to the company and its product
b.	a company mascot
c.	employee autonomy from the company
d.	telecommuting

ANS:APTS:1DIF:Moderate

REF:Is Bureaucracy an Outdated Model?

OBJ: Familiarize yourself with some of the alternatives to bureaucracy that have developed in other societies or in recent times. Think about the influence of technology on how organizations operate.

MSC:Remembering

56.Every Friday, Google, Inc., encourages all of its employees to attend a speaker series in which authors, athletes, and other famous and inspiring people speak. This weekly corporate event is an example of a management trend known as:

a.	employee perks	c.	corporate culture
b.	human resources management	d.	socialism

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:Moderate

REF:Is Bureaucracy an Outdated Model?

OBJ: Familiarize yourself with some of the alternatives to bureaucracy that have developed in other societies or in recent times. Think about the influence of technology on how organizations operate.

MSC: Applying

57.Which of the following is an advantage of telecommuting?

a.	Workers are not wasting time with the kind of casual interaction that occurs around water coolers.
b.	It eliminates the time spent commuting to and from work.
c.	Workers can cheat on their time cards and say they worked more hours than they really did.
d.	It creates a two-strata employment system of technology experts and less autonomous clerical workers.

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:Difficult

REF:Is Bureaucracy an Outdated Model?

OBJ: Familiarize yourself with some of the alternatives to bureaucracy that have developed in other societies or in recent times. Think about the influence of technology on how organizations operate.

MSC:Remembering

58.According to the textbook, the use of information and communications technology in corporations has reduced the rigid hierarchical structure of corporations, but at the same time it has created:

a.	a two-strata employment system of technology experts and less autonomous clerical workers
b.	telecommuters who are totally disconnected from the corporate culture
c.	a three-strata employment system of powerful managers, autonomous technology experts, and less autonomous clerical workers
d.	unhappiness among employees who are telecommuters

ANS:APTS:1DIF:Moderate

REF:Is Bureaucracy an Outdated Model?

OBJ: Familiarize yourself with some of the alternatives to bureaucracy that have developed in other societies or in recent times. Think about the influence of technology on how organizations operate.

MSC:Remembering

59.The McDonaldization of society refers to:

a.	the obesity epidemic in American society
b.	the taking over of key authority positions by baby boomers
c.	the increased uniformity and rationality of society due to automation
d.	the phenomenal success of cooperative restaurants as a model for other companies

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:Easy

REF:Is Bureaucracy an Outdated Model?

OBJ: Familiarize yourself with some of the alternatives to bureaucracy that have developed in other societies or in recent times. Think about the influence of technology on how organizations operate.

MSC:Remembering

60.Of the following, which is NOT a principle of George Ritzer’s theory of the McDonaldization of society?

a.	efficiency	c.	dependability
b.	calculability	d.	uniformity

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:Moderate

REF:Is Bureaucracy an Outdated Model?

OBJ: Familiarize yourself with some of the alternatives to bureaucracy that have developed in other societies or in recent times. Think about the influence of technology on how organizations operate.

MSC:Remembering

61.According to Robert Putnam, television is the main cause of:

a.	an increase in violence
b.	an increase in sex among teenagers
c.	declining civic participation
d.	a declining attention span among young people

ANS:CPTS:1DIF:Moderate

REF:How Do Groups and Organizations Affect Your Life?

OBJ: Learn how social capital enables people to accomplish their goals and expand their influence.

MSC:Remembering

62.Every day after school Maria goes to the local teen center. She is part of a group that is organizing a multicultural festival for the community. This activity is likely to produce:

a.	bonding social capital	c.	community banks
b.	bridging social capital	d.	reference groups

ANS:BPTS:1DIF:Moderate

REF:How Do Groups and Organizations Affect Your Life?

OBJ: Learn how social capital enables people to accomplish their goals and expand their influence.

MSC: Applying

ESSAY

1.Today more of our social relationships are dominated by secondary groups instead of primary groups. Charles Horton Cooley worried about the loss of intimacy as secondary groups became more prominent and pervasive. Émile Durkheim and Georg Simmel saw some benefits of the development of more secondary groups. What do you think about the trend toward more secondary-group relationships in modern society?

ANS:

To answer this question, students should know the main differences between primary groups and secondary groups as well as the benefits and drawbacks of each type of social group. Primary groups are characterized by intense emotions, face-to-face interaction, intimacy, and a strong, enduring sense of commitment. Primary groups provide a sense of belonging and connection but can stifle individuality and force conformity. According to Simmel, primary groups are more likely to be intense and unstable because there are fewer group members. Secondary groups are characterized by their large size and by impersonal, fleeting relationships. Secondary groups have less intense relationships and are more stable over time due to the larger number of members. Secondary groups are more likely to be oriented around a specific task and organized to achieve that task efficiently. Durkheim believed that large organizations, such as bureaucracies, are the best way to deal with the administrative underpinning of large-scale societies, yet Durkheim also felt that bureaucracies can quickly become inefficient and stifle creativity and innovation. Students will draw their own conclusions about whether they think secondary-group relationships are good or bad (or both) for society, but they need to substantiate their answers with knowledge of the concepts and trends.

PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ: Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior. MSC: Creating

2.Give an example of a dyad, a triad, and a larger group. In which groups are the relationships more intense? In which are they more stable? Use your examples to explain why.

ANS:

To answer this question, students should know how to describe each type of social group and give an example. They need to be able to describe the dynamics of each type of social group. An example of a dyad is a married couple with no children. In this example, the relationship is very intense but also very unstable because if one member leaves, that group disappears. An example of a triad is three best friends. In this example, the relationships are still fairly intense, but they are more stable because one person can act as a mediator if conflict arises. However, alliances between two members can also arise and cause tensions. An example of a larger group would be an Introduction to Sociology class with 50 members. The relationships in this group have a very low level of intensity and are organized around achieving a goal. The relationships in this group are likely to be governed by formal rules and written procedures, which make the relationships more impersonal. These groups have a high level of stability because the loss of group members will not affect the overall structure or goal of the group.

PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ: Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior. MSC: Analyzing

3.Compare transformational leadership and transactional leadership. Give an example of each from your own experience or from your knowledge of history.

ANS:

To answer this question, students should know the main differences between transformational leadership and transactional leadership. A transformational leader is able to instill in the members of a group a sense of mission or higher purpose, thereby changing the nature of the group itself. Good examples of transformational leaders are Martin Luther King, Gandhi, and Mother Teresa. A transactional leader is concerned with accomplishing the group’s tasks, getting group members to do their jobs, and making certain that the group achieves its goals. Good examples of transactional leaders are CEOs, presidents, and professors. Students should provide clear examples and need to substantiate their answers with knowledge of the concepts.

PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ: Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior. MSC: Analyzing

4.How do the studies conducted by Solomon Asch, Stanley Milgram, and Irving Janis help us understand conformity? Pick one of these studies and explain how you think you would have responded as a subject in the study.

ANS:

To answer this question, students should demonstrate their knowledge of each study and how it specifically helps us understand why people do or do not conform. Asch’s experiments clearly showed that many people are willing to go along with the group consensus even if they believe it is incorrect. Milgram found that ordinary citizens will conform to orders given by someone in a position of power or authority—even if those orders have horrible consequences. Janis identified a phenomenon he called groupthink, a process by which the members of a group ignore those ideas, suggestions, and plans of action that go against the group consensus. Students must pick one of these studies and describe in detail how they would respond if put in the same situation as the participants in that study.

PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ: Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior. MSC: Creating

5.According to Irving Janis, what is groupthink? Why can groupthink lead to bad decisions by otherwise smart and strong-willed individuals? Provide a historical example in your explanation of groupthink.

ANS:

To answer this question, students should demonstrate their knowledge of the Janis study and the specifics of groupthink: a process by which the members of a group ignore those ideas, suggestions, and plans of action that go against the group consensus. Groupthink can lead to bad decisions because the consensus may be ill chosen and possibly dangerous. Janis engaged in historical research to see whether groupthink had characterized U.S. foreign policy decisions. Students must provide an example from history to illustrate the key points of groupthink, including intelligent, thoughtful group members; conformity to consensus; and a failure to examine alternative ideas or information that challenges the group consensus.

PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: What Are Social Groups?

OBJ: Learn the variety and characteristics of groups, as well as the effect of groups on an individual’s behavior. MSC: Analyzing

6.What are the benefits of social networks? Explain how social networks facilitate the reproduction of existing inequalities for women, lower socioeconomic classes, and minorities. Give an example.

ANS:

To answer this question, students should first explain the benefits of social networks and then explain how not everyone has access to these benefits. Networks are beneficial because we are likely to rely on our networks for a broad range of contacts and resources. Most people rely on their personal networks to gain advantages, but not everyone has equal access to powerful networks. In general, whites and men have more advantageous social networks than do ethnic minorities and women. An example could be that as Internet-based social networks grow, they do so unevenly across the population because not everyone has equal access to the Internet. Lower-income people and ethnic minorities are less likely to have Internet access than wealthier people and whites.

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficult REF: How Do We Benefit from Social Networks?

OBJ: Understand the importance of social networks and the advantages they confer on some people.

MSC: Evaluating

7.Explain how the Internet affects social relationships and social networks. Explain how it can have both a positive and a negative impact.

ANS:

To answer this question, students must first identify how the Internet changes our relationships and next explain the positives and negatives of these changes. The Internet has increased our access to social networks. The Internet provides rapid communication with a global reach, and we can extend our personal networks around the world. The Internet allows for networking with like-minded people on specific issues, such as politics, business, hobbies, and romance. It also enables people who might otherwise lack contact with others due to their location or physical condition to be part of global networks. The Internet fosters the creation of new relationships, often without the emotional and social baggage or constraints that go along with face-to-face encounters. In the absence of the usual physical and social cues, such as skin color or residential address, people can get together electronically on the basis of shared interests, such as gaming, rather than similar social characteristics. Social networks and relationships can be established across borders that previously affected face-to-face relationships. These include social position, wealth, race, ethnicity, gender, and physical disability. However, not everyone has equal access to the Internet. Lower-income persons and ethnic minorities are less likely to have Internet access than wealthier persons and whites.

PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate REF: How Do We Benefit from Social Networks?

OBJ: Understand the importance of social networks and the advantages they confer on some people.

MSC: Evaluating

8.List and explain the characteristics of the “ideal type of bureaucracy” that Max Weber described and how they are evident or not evident in your college or university.

ANS:

To answer this question, students must first define bureaucracy and ideal type and then explain the characteristics of an ideal type bureaucracy that Weber outlines. Bureaucracy is a type of organization marked by a clear hierarchy of authority, the existence of written rules of procedure, and a staff of full-time, salaried officials. An ideal type is a “pure type,” constructed by emphasizing certain traits of a social item that do not necessarily exist in reality. The characteristics of the ideal type of bureaucracy include: (1) a clear-cut hierarchy of authority such that tasks in the organization are distributed as official duties, (2) written rules that govern the conduct of officials at all levels of the organization, (3) officials who are full-time and salaried, (4) separation between the tasks of an official within the organization and his or her life outside, and (5) members of the organization do not own the material resources with which they operate. After identifying these characteristics, students should explain how they are evident or not evident in their college or university.

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficult REF: How Do Organizations Function?

OBJ: Know how to define an organization and understand how organizations developed over the last two centuries. Learn Max Weber’s theory of organizations and view of bureaucracy.

MSC: Creating

9.According to George Ritzer, what is the McDonaldization of society? Explain the four guiding principles of McDonaldization, using the example of one of the following: your college or university, the health-care system, or the movie industry.

ANS:

To answer this question, students must first define McDonaldization and the four guiding principles. According to Ritzer, McDonaldization is “the process by which the principles of the fast-food restaurants are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society as well as the rest of the world.” Ritzer uses the four guiding principles for McDonald’s restaurants—efficiency, calculability, uniformity, and control through automation—to show that our society is becoming ever more rationalized with time. Students must then use one of the examples provided to illustrate these four guiding principles.

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficult REF: Is Bureaucracy an Outdated Model?

OBJ: Familiarize yourself with some of the alternatives to bureaucracy that have developed in other societies or in recent times. Think about the influence of technology on how organizations operate.

MSC: Analyzing

10.Look at the organizations you belong to that may provide you with social capital. Describe one organization that provides you with bridging social capital and explain why it does. Describe another organization that provides you with bonding social capital and explain why it does.

ANS:

To answer this question, students must define social capital and distinguish between bridging social capital and bonding social capital. Social capital is the social knowledge and connections that enable people to accomplish their goals and extend their influence. Bridging social capital is outward looking and unifies people across social clefts. Bonding social capital is inclusive and inward looking, thereby reinforcing exclusive identities and homogenous groups. Examples of organizations that provide bridging social capital are interfaith or interracial groups. Examples of organizations that provide bonding social capital are ethnic fraternal organizations, fraternities, and sororities. Students must pick an organization they belong to and demonstrate the type of social capital it provides them and why.

PTS:1DIF:Difficult

REF:How Do Groups and Organizations Affect Your Life?

OBJ: Learn how social capital enables people to accomplish their goals and expand their influence.

MSC: Evaluating