Question 1

A professor tells a class that her exams will cover information from class lectures, class discussion, and reading assignments. However, the exam includes questions related to only reading assignments. Students complain because the exam is

Accepted Answer

The exam is not valid because it does not accurately measure what it was supposed to measure, which includes information from class lectures, class discussion, and reading assignments, but instead only covers reading assignments. Validity refers to how well a test measures what it is purported to measure.

Question 2

One unintended or unexpected disruption of socially assistive robots is that people may actually prefer the company of robots over fellow humans. This situation represents

Accepted Answer

A latent dysfunction is an unintended and unrecognized negative consequence of an action or social structure; in this case, the preference for robot company over human interaction is an unintended negative outcome of using socially assistive robots.

Question 3

A functionalist reading the news headline, "Talking Robots Play Part in Therapeutic Treatment for People With Special Needs," is most likely to ask

Accepted Answer

Functionalists are interested in how different parts of society contribute to the overall functioning and stability of society. They would likely focus on the intended and unintended consequences of using talking robots in therapeutic treatments, considering how this technological integration affects the broader social system, including its benefits and potential drawbacks.

Question 4

A tree can have different meanings to a farmer, a home builder, a poet, or an environmentalist. In any case the tree acts as a

Accepted Answer

A tree can represent different things (such as life, growth, nature) to different people, making it a symbol that carries various meanings depending on the perspective of the observer.

Question 5

College sports teams, when successful, can have the unanticipated or _____ function of increasing the number of students enrolled.

Accepted Answer

The correct term is "latent," which refers to something that is present but not visible, apparent, or actualized at the moment. In this context, it means an unexpected or hidden function of successful college sports teams, which is increasing student enrollment.

Question 6

Min Kyung Lee studied the meanings employees assigned to a socially assistive robot named Snackbot. Lee's focus suggests she is influenced by the _____ perspective.

Accepted Answer

Lee's focus on the meanings employees assigned to a socially assistive robot aligns with the symbolic interaction perspective, which emphasizes how individuals interpret and give meaning to social objects, interactions, and processes.

Question 7

Read the following hypothesis: Customers who experience personalized conversations with Snackbot are more likely to cooperate with Snackbot's request than those who experience impersonal scripted conversation. The dependent variable is

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the outcome that is being measured in the study, which in this case is the "cooperation (or not) with Snackbot's request." This is what the researchers are interested in observing as it changes in response to the independent variable, which is the type of conversation (personalized or impersonal).

Question 8

One expected disruption of socially assistive robots relates to increased unemployment as robots replace human workers. This disruption qualifies as a

Accepted Answer

The answer of One expected disruption of socially assistive robots...

Question 9

The _____ is the best perspective to draw upon for exploring human-robot interactions.

Accepted Answer

Symbolic interactionism focuses on the meanings and interpretations that individuals place on objects, events, and behaviors, making it the most suitable perspective for exploring human-robot interactions, as it emphasizes understanding how humans interpret and interact with robots.

Question 10

If socially assistive robots assume caregiving roles, a number of unanticipated consequences may occur such as the elimination of sexual abuse. This unanticipated consequence is a

Accepted Answer

A latent function is an unintended or unrecognized positive effect of an action or social structure; in this case, the reduction or elimination of sexual abuse as a result of robots assuming caregiving roles would be a positive but unintended consequence, fitting the definition of a latent function.

Question 11

In reviewing the existing literature on socially assistive robots, Lee looked

Accepted Answer

Lee looked at "gaps" in the literature that her research could address, which is a common practice in academic research to identify areas where further investigation is needed.

Question 12

When symbolic interactionists study socially assistive robots, they are most likely to emphasize

Accepted Answer

Symbolic interactionism focuses on the micro-level interactions between individuals and how meanings are constructed and reconstructed through these interactions. When studying socially assistive robots, symbolic interactionists would emphasize the interaction dynamics between robots and humans, exploring how humans interpret and assign meaning to these robots during their interactions.

Question 13

Which of the following is something symbolic interactionists emphasize?

Accepted Answer

Symbolic interactionists emphasize negotiated order, focusing on how individuals interact and create shared meanings in society through communication and interpretation.

Question 14

A conflict theorist reading the news headline "Future Surgeons May Use Robotic Nurse" is most likely to ask:

Accepted Answer

Conflict theory focuses on the distribution of resources and power in society, often highlighting inequalities. In the context of robotic nurses, a conflict theorist would be interested in understanding who gains advantages (such as financial benefits or increased efficiency) and who might suffer disadvantages (such as job loss or reduced human interaction) as a result of their introduction.

Question 15

Read the following hypothesis: Customers who experienced personalized conversations with Snackbot are more likely to cooperate with Snackbot's requests than those who customers experienced impersonal scripted conversation. The independent variable is

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the condition manipulated by the researcher, which in this case is the "presence or absence of personalized conversation" with Snackbot.

Question 16

Lee's research involving Snackbot showed that under the right conditions, people can form collegial (even social)relationships with workplace robots. This finding relates to the _____ perspective.

Accepted Answer

Lee's research aligns with the symbolic interactionist perspective because it focuses on the meanings and relationships people develop with robots in their social environments, emphasizing interpersonal interactions and the social construction of reality.

Question 17

After reviewing the literature on socially assistive robots, Lee noticed that no study had ever

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is C because it specifies the context of a workplace culture, which is more specific than the general interactions between people and robots or the study of socially assistive robots as a whole.

Question 18

In her research on robots in the workplace Lee distributed a set of questions that she asked people to answer on their own time. This method is known as a

Accepted Answer

Lee's method of distributing a set of questions for people to answer on their own time is known as a self-administered questionnaire. This approach allows respondents to complete the questionnaire at their convenience, without the direct involvement of the researcher during the response process.

Question 19

For her study on robots in the workplace Lee was able to view Snackbot's interactions with people through video/audio feeds. This method of study is known as

Accepted Answer

Nonparticipant observation is a research method where the researcher observes the subjects without interacting with them, which is what Lee did by viewing Snackbot's interactions through video/audio feeds.

Question 20

An expected or _____ function of a sports team is that it can unite fans who are often extremely different from one another.

Accepted Answer

The correct term is "manifest," which refers to the clear, obvious, or intended function of something. In this context, the manifest function of a sports team is to unite fans, which is a direct and intended outcome of the team's existence and activities.

Quiz 2: Sociological Perspectives and Methods of Research: With Emphasis on Social Robotics