Question 1

In terms of job leads and social networks, how are men's networks different from women's?
A) Women are more likely to tell other women in their network about job opportunities.
B) Men are always more likely to hear about job opportunities.
C) If a woman's network has more women than men in it, she is less likely to hear about job openings.
D) If a man's network has more women than men in it, he is less likely to hear about job openings.
E) If a woman's network has more men than women in it, she is less likely to hear about job openings.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that women with networks predominantly composed of other women may have less access to job leads compared to those with more gender-diverse networks.

Question 2

Why would sociologists who study social networks and employment pay attention to the frequency with which an individual has been in contact with each member of his social network?
A) to measure the homogeneity of the network
B) to determine if groupthink is an issue in a particular social network
C) to see if a particular tie is strong or weak
D) because sociologists don't care about frequency of contact
E) to see just how extensive a network is

Accepted Answer

Sociologists who study social networks and employment pay attention to the frequency with which an individual has been in contact with each member of his social network in order to determine if a particular tie is strong or weak. Strong ties are those that involve frequent contact and provide emotional and psychological support. Weak ties, on the other hand, involve less frequent contact but are still valuable for accessing new information and opportunities. By analyzing the frequency of contact between individuals and their network members, sociologists can gain a better understanding of the overall strength and connectedness of a given social network.

Question 3

According to Robin Leidner in Fast Food, Fast Talk, what have fast food restaurants done in order to rationalize the process of providing food to customers?
A) asked employees to always use customers' first names
B) tailored each work station to an employee's unique personal qualities
C) focused on giving each customer a unique eating experience
D) developed standardized scripts for employees to use when dealing with customers
E) asked employees to customize their attire

Accepted Answer

According to Robin Leidner in Fast Food, Fast Talk, fast food restaurants have developed standardized scripts for employees to use when dealing with customers in order to rationalize the process of providing food.

Question 4

Simon Langlois studied government employment in Quebec. He found that even though the government had made efforts to formalize recruitment, over 40 percent of those surveyed found their jobs through personal contacts. In the majority of those cases, the personal contacts were fairly casual, not close friends. What principle is demonstrated here?
A) the strength of weak ties
B) the power of strong triads
C) the way reference groups affect people's behavior
D) the role group cohesion plays in determining behavior
E) the power of groupthink

Accepted Answer

The principle demonstrated here is the strength of weak ties, which suggests that individuals are more likely to find job opportunities and other resources through acquaintances and distant connections rather than their closest friends and family members. In this case, even though formal recruitment processes were in place, personal contacts were still a significant factor in obtaining government employment.

Question 5

The Japanese management technique kaizen is considered innovative in that it does which of the following?
A) It allows workers to set their own hours, which in turn increases productivity.
B) It encourages workers to continue with their educational pursuits, through economic incentives.
C) It provides mediation for workplace disputes, which create better work place relations.
D) It allows workers to "trade" tasks with each other, limiting worker boredom in the process.
E) It encourages lower-level workers to suggest innovative ideas, making them feel valued.

Accepted Answer

The Japanese management technique kaizen encourages lower-level workers to suggest innovative ideas, making them feel valued. Kaizen is a continuous improvement approach that focuses on small improvements over time, and it relies on the involvement and suggestion of workers at all levels to make those improvements happen. This approach helps to create a culture of innovation and empowerment within the organization. None of the other choices reflect the essence of kaizen.

Question 6

The sociologist Joseph Conti studied the World Trade Organization as a social network. According to Conti, how is power measured within this sort of social network?
A) The most powerful members are those who most often win their disputes with other members.
B) The most powerful members are those with the most connections to other members.
C) The most powerful members are those who are involved in the fewest disputes with other members.
D) The most powerful members are those who can most often change the minds of other members.
E) The most powerful members are those who most often act ethically and morally.

Accepted Answer

According to Joseph Conti, power is measured within a social network by the number of connections that a member has with other members. The more connections a member has, the more powerful they are considered to be within the network. This is because having connections allows for information and resources to flow more easily between members, and can give a member greater access to decision-making processes within the group.

Question 7

The definition of what constitutes a group is being transformed as a result of new technology and the Information Revolution. Which of the following is NOT evidence of this?
A) websites
B) chat rooms
C) online "self-help" groups
D) "virtual" relationships
E) electronic communities

Accepted Answer

Websites alone do not constitute a group or evidence of the transformation of group definitions due to new technology and the Information Revolution. While they can be platforms for groups to form (e.g., forums or social media sites), merely being a website does not inherently involve group interaction or community building in the way that chat rooms, online self-help groups, virtual relationships, and electronic communities do.

Question 8

A high school decides that its band needs to wear uniforms. In order to be more efficient, the school only buys uniforms in three sizes and forces students to pick the size that comes closest to fitting. What process described in Chapter 5 is this an example of?
A) decriminalization
B) rationalization
C) virtual communities
D) group dynamics
E) network theory

Accepted Answer

This is an example of rationalization, which involves the organization of social and economic systems for maximum efficiency and productivity. The school is using a standardized system of uniform sizes to streamline the process of outfitting the band.

Question 9

In a Peruvian 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. In a pilot study, this effort largely failed. Government caseworkers lectured the villagers about germ theory, but villagers associated hot foods with illness and didn't like the taste of boiled water. The only families who adopted the practice were not well integrated into the village and had few connections to their neighbors. What does this demonstrate?
A) that reference groups play an important role in building primary group ties
B) that the need for more virtual communities is declining
C) that social ties don't just connect us to others, they influence our behavior
D) that modernization attempts largely fail without modern technology
E) the McDonaldization of society

Accepted Answer

The scenario demonstrates how social ties and cultural norms influenced the behavior of the villagers, highlighting the importance of considering social context when promoting health behaviors. The failure of the campaign also suggests that simply providing information or technology alone may not be enough to change behavior.

Question 10

Activists sometimes advocate living "off the grid," which, in its simplest form, means living without buying electricity and water from utility companies. However, they also admit that living off the grid is harder and harder, because there simply isn't enough affordable land in places where it would be feasible to do so. This means that most of America has to:
A) live in the suburbs.
B) live in apartments.
C) ride bicycles.
D) deal with bureaucracies.
E) compensate by paying high utility fees.

Accepted Answer

Living off the grid often involves navigating and complying with various regulations and zoning laws, which means dealing with bureaucracies is an inevitable part of the process for those attempting this lifestyle.

Question 11

If group members share information and advice, provide support to one another, and have common interests but never meet in person, what kind of group are they a part of?
A) a reference group
B) a social network
C) an in-group
D) a secondary group
E) a virtual community

Accepted Answer

This group is a virtual community because they interact online and do not necessarily have physical meetings. They share common interests, advice, and support each other, but the group is not a formal organization or a secondary group with a specific goal or structure.

Question 12

Mark Granovetter has argued that the people you know best are likely to possess only information you already have, which is why he argued that, especially for finding employment, it is advantageous to have:
A) a commitment to hard work and a determination to succeed.
B) more casual acquaintances who are connected to different social networks.
C) parents and grandparents with high socioeconomic status.
D) a prestigious education in order to gain access to lucrative occupations.
E) a high degree of cultural and social capital.

Accepted Answer

Granovetter's argument is based on the idea of "weak ties" - people who are not your closest friends or family members but who are still a part of your social network. These weak ties are valuable because they are likely to have different sets of information and connections than your close ties. Therefore, having more casual acquaintances who are connected to different social networks can be advantageous for finding employment or other opportunities.

Question 13

The sociologist Duncan Watts examined the way individuals may change their minds about who to vote for based on the opinions of friends and acquaintances. What concept was Watts studying?
A) social networks
B) bureaucracy
C) charismatic authority
D) the McDonaldization of society
E) rationalization

Accepted Answer

Watts was studying the influence of social networks on individual decision-making, specifically how opinions and behaviors can spread and change within a network of friends and acquaintances.

Question 14

Social networks can influence people through contagion. What does that mean?
A) When connection leads to disease or infection, sociologists call it contagion.
B) The influence of various social networks is contagious. Networks tend to mimic each other over the long run.
C) This borrows from a biological model: if people are weak, they are likely to "catch" the influence of their social network.
D) When people are connected to a social network, what happens in that network is more likely to affect them.
E) All of these are true.

Accepted Answer

Contagion in social networks refers to the idea that when people are connected to a social network, what happens in that network is more likely to affect them. It does not necessarily involve disease or infection, as in option A. Option B is partially correct, as networks can influence each other, but it does not necessarily mean that this influence is contagious. Option C may be true to some extent, but it simplifies the concept of contagion in social networks. Therefore, the best choice is D, which accurately describes the meaning of contagion in social networks.

Question 15

In 2003 the U.S. Army discovered Saddam Hussein hiding in a "spider hole" under a small building in his hometown, Tikrit. The army had tracked him to that location not by looking for him directly, but rather by creating a large "map" that displayed all the members of his family and tribe, showing their links to other people. Starting with just four names, the map allowed army intelligence to zero in on a small number of people whose relationships with Hussein made it more likely that they would know where he was. The search for Saddam Hussein demonstrated the practical applications of:
A) out-groups.
B) in-groups.
C) groupthink.
D) group cohesion.
E) network analysis.

Accepted Answer

The search for Saddam Hussein demonstrated the practical applications of network analysis, as a large "map" was created to display all the members of his family and tribe, showing their links to other people. This allowed army intelligence to zero in on a small number of people whose relationships with Hussein made it more likely that they would know where he was.

Question 16

What term did the sociologist George Ritzer use to describe the spread into everyday life of rationalization and bureaucratic ways of operating?
A) the iron cage
B) the spirit of capitalism
C) legal-rational authority
D) bureaucratic creep
E) McDonaldization

Accepted Answer

George Ritzer coined the term "McDonaldization" to describe the spread of rationalization and bureaucratic ways of operating into various aspects of everyday life, from fast food restaurants to healthcare and education systems. This refers to the standardization, efficiency, predictability, and control that characterize the fast food industry and is now found in many other domains. The term also implies the negative consequences of such a way of operating, including the homogenization, dehumanization, and lack of creativity or autonomy.

Question 17

How have social networking websites affected social groups?
A) They diminish the importance of primary groups, but not secondary, groups.
B) They reinforce the importance of bureaucracies.
C) They make primary groups expand to include many more members than before.
D) They minimize the importance of secondary groups, especially those associated with shared interests or education.
E) 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 impersonal and goal-oriented) groups, enhancing the ability to maintain and strengthen ties in both types of social groups.

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of McDonaldization, as George Ritzer used the term?
A) The McLibel support campaign, created to support members of a London environmental group being sued by McDonald's for libel over the contents of a fact sheet they distributed.
B) A worker says, "Sometimes I felt just like a robot. You push a button and you go this way. You become a mechanical nut."
C) A small farmer who raises organic free-range chickens says, "Sometimes it's really hard waking up before dawn and working to keep your flocks healthy, but in the end it's very rewarding, both emotionally and financially."
D) An apprentice that makes guitars in a workshop says, "You would never believe the hard work, the discipline, that go into the making of a single guitar, often custom made, for a specific client. It takes hundreds of hours of hard, careful labor, every step deliberated."
E) A guest at a bed-and-breakfast said, "It was marvelous, the innkeepers treated us like family. It was so comfortable and friendly, and charming and romantic."

Accepted Answer

The statement "Sometimes I felt just like a robot. You push a button and you go this way. You become a mechanical nut" reflects the process of McDonaldization, in which individuals are expected to behave like machines and perform tasks in a highly rationalized and efficient manner.

Question 19

In "The Strength of Weak Ties," what does Mark Granovetter mean when he claims that weak ties can be strong?
A) Weak ties often develop into stronger ones.
B) We rely on weak ties for much of our emotional support.
C) Weak ties almost always are long-lasting and durable.
D) Weak ties matter more to us than other ties.
E) Even weak ties can provide valuable information.

Accepted Answer

In "The Strength of Weak Ties," Mark Granovetter argues that weak ties, which are connections with people who are not in our closest circle of friends and family, can be valuable sources of information because they are more likely to introduce us to new ideas and opportunities. Therefore, even though weak ties may not be emotionally close or long-lasting, they can still be strong and significant in terms of providing access to new resources or knowledge.

Question 20

Sociologists refer to the webs of direct and indirect ties connecting individuals to others who influence them as:
A) social networks
B) reference groups
C) cliques
D) inner circles
E) in-groups

Accepted Answer

Sociologists refer to the webs of direct and indirect ties connecting individuals to others who influence them as social networks. Reference groups are a specific type of social network, while cliques and inner circles refer to smaller, more exclusive groups within a network. In-groups are a concept related to social identity theory and refer to a group an individual identifies with and feels a sense of belonging to.

Quiz 5: Separate and Together: Life in Groups

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

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

According to Robin Leidner in Fast Food, Fast Talk, what have fast food restaurants done in order to rationalize the process of providing food to customers?

The Japanese management technique kaizen is considered innovative in that it does which of the following?

The sociologist Joseph Conti studied the World Trade Organization as a social network. According to Conti, how is power measured within this sort of social network?

The definition of what constitutes a group is being transformed as a result of new technology and the Information Revolution. Which of the following is NOT evidence of this?

A high school decides that its band needs to wear uniforms. In order to be more efficient, the school only buys uniforms in three sizes and forces students to pick the size that comes closest to fitting. What process described in Chapter 5 is this an example of?

If group members share information and advice, provide support to one another, and have common interests but never meet in person, what kind of group are they a part of?

Mark Granovetter has argued that the people you know best are likely to possess only information you already have, which is why he argued that, especially for finding employment, it is advantageous to have:

The sociologist Duncan Watts examined the way individuals may change their minds about who to vote for based on the opinions of friends and acquaintances. What concept was Watts studying?

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

What term did the sociologist George Ritzer use to describe the spread into everyday life of rationalization and bureaucratic ways of operating?

How have social networking websites affected social groups?

Which of the following is an example of McDonaldization, as George Ritzer used the term?

In "The Strength of Weak Ties," what does Mark Granovetter mean when he claims that weak ties can be strong?

Sociologists refer to the webs of direct and indirect ties connecting individuals to others who influence them as: