Question 1

Deindividuation refers to
A) the inability of a person to think for themselves.
B) the willingness of a person to take the blame for the entire group.
C) the sense of merging with a group so that blame for bad outcomes will be shared.
D) a sense of normlessness.

Accepted Answer

Deindividuation refers to the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint in group situations that foster anonymity and draw attention away from the individual. This makes the individual more likely to behave in an impulsive and uninhibited way, and also makes it easier for them to disassociate from responsibility for their actions by attributing them to the group as a whole.

Question 2

Despite being warned of danger, NASA scientists proceeded with the 1986 launch of the space shuttle Challenger, which subsequently exploded, killing all onboard. Sociological analysis of this situation finds it was caused by
A) a lack of communication.
B) a combination of risky shift and organizational ritualism.
C) organizational alienation.
D) delayed communication and lengthy decision-making processes.

Accepted Answer

The combination of risky shift and organizational ritualism led to the decision to proceed with the launch despite warnings of danger. Risky shift refers to the tendency for group decisions to be riskier than individual decisions, while organizational ritualism refers to the adherence to established rules and procedures without questioning their effectiveness. In this case, the NASA scientists fell victim to both of these phenomena.

Question 3

Groups that are organized to pursue goals the members find worthwhile, such as Kiwanis clubs, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) , B'nai B'rith, and the National LGBTQ Task Force, are called _____organizations.
A) affiliative
B) normative
C) coercive
D) utilitarian

Accepted Answer

Normative organizations are groups that are organized around a shared set of values or goals that the members find personally worthwhile. They are voluntary associations that individuals join because they believe in the cause or mission of the organization. Kiwanis clubs, the NAACP, B'nai B'rith, and the National LGBTQ Task Force are all examples of normative organizations. Affiliative organizations are those that people join primarily for social reasons, such as fraternal orders or social clubs. Coercive organizations are groups that people are forced to join, such as prisons or the military. Utilitarian organizations are those that people join for practical reasons, such as a job or business opportunity.

Question 4

Alienation refers to the _____ and is associated with increased turnover, tardiness, absenteeism, and overall dissatisfaction with an organization.
A) psychological separation of a person from an organization
B) rigid adherence to rules and regulations by organizations
C) shift away from intimate relationships with others
D) physical movement away from a negative interaction

Accepted Answer

Alienation refers to the psychological separation or feeling of being disconnected from an organization. This feeling of separation can lead to negative consequences, such as increased turnover, tardiness, absenteeism, and overall dissatisfaction with the organization.

Question 5

Mac joined a well-known multilevel marketing group that sells various household cleaning products in order to be his own boss and earn what he believes will be quite a bit of money. Mac joined a _____ organization.
A) normative
B) utilitarian
C) coercive
D) voluntary

Accepted Answer

Utilitarian organizations are joined for the expectation of earning a reward or income, which aligns with Mac's motivation for joining the multilevel marketing group.

Question 6

According to Weber, the _____ bureaucracy is characterized by a high degree of division of labor and a hierarchy of authority.
A) primary
B) principle
C) ideal type
D) model

Accepted Answer

Weber's ideal type bureaucracy emphasizes the key characteristics of bureaucratic organization, such as a clear division of labor, hierarchical authority structure, and impersonality.

Question 7

In a triad, when two of the people are interacting and form a dyad, the sociological term for the third person is
A) an outcast.
B) an isolate.
C) a third party.
D) a co-participant.

Accepted Answer

In sociological terms, when two people in a triad (a group of three) are interacting more closely with each other, leaving the third person less involved, that third person is referred to as an "isolate." This term captures the idea of being isolated from the dyadic interaction happening within the triad.

Question 8

Which of the following is not characteristic of Weber's "ideal type" of bureaucracy?
A) Close interpersonal relationships and egalitarianism
B) A focus on instrumental rather than expressive needs
C) Formal rules and regulations
D) High levels of efficiency

Accepted Answer

Weber's ideal type of bureaucracy emphasizes formal rules, hierarchy, and efficiency, while de-emphasizing close interpersonal relationships and egalitarianism. Therefore, choice A is not characteristic of Weber's ideal type.

Question 9

Triadic segregation refers to the
A) tendency for triads to develop into a pair and an isolate.
B) likelihood of dyads to be stable.
C) emergence of coalitions.
D) predisposition for primary groups to be small.

Accepted Answer

Triadic segregation refers to the tendency for a triad (a group of three individuals) to divide into a pair and an isolate (an individual who is left out). This process can occur due to various factors such as conflicts in the triad or the development of closer relationships between two individuals within the triad.

Question 10

The primary reason that people join normative organizations is
A) to pursue goals they believe are worthwhile.
B) to increase their financial status.
C) because of coercive pressure.
D) to increase the size of their social networks.

Accepted Answer

The primary reason that people join normative organizations is to pursue goals that they believe are worthwhile, such as charitable causes, religious beliefs, or political ideologies. Normative organizations are typically voluntary and membership is based on shared values and goals rather than coercion or financial gain.

Question 11

L. L. Janis argued that even highly educated people are subject to groupthink and illustrated this by identifying government decisions that reflected its operation. According to your text, which of these government decisions reflects groupthink? 
A) U.S. entry into World War II after the Pearl Harbor attack
B) Underestimation of the threat of terrorism prior to the 9/11 attacks
C) The Johnson administration's 1967 decision to start the War on Poverty
D) The Obama administration's decision to reform health care

Accepted Answer

The underestimation of the threat of terrorism prior to the 9/11 attacks reflects groupthink because government officials failed to consider all available information and alternatives, and instead collectively decided to stick to their original assumptions and biases. This is a common symptom of groupthink. The other options do not necessarily reflect groupthink.

Question 12

The study of formal organizations represents an example of
A) macroanalysis.
B) microanalysis.
C) meta-analysis.
D) mezzo-analysis.

Accepted Answer

The study of formal organizations focuses on the structure, processes, and characteristics of large-scale institutions such as corporations, governments, and nonprofits, making it a form of macroanalysis. It examines how these organizations are formed, how they function, and how they interact with other organizational and societal entities.

Question 13

The tragic cases of the Challengerin 1986 and the Columbiain 2003 are used to illustrate the point that
A) people need to be more responsible in their jobs.
B) the informal network does not always have a positive effect.
C) rigid conformity within an organization can be very dangerous.
D) failure to follow the chain of command may end in tragedy.

Accepted Answer

The Challenger and Columbia disasters both occurred due to rigid conformity within the organizations. In both cases, dissenting opinions and warnings were ignored or suppressed, leading to tragic consequences. This shows that blindly following established procedures without questioning them can be dangerous.

Question 14

Which statement about organizations as sociologists view them is correct?
A) All utilitarian organizations are for-profit.
B) Formal organizations start out as bureaucracies but subsequently evolve.
C) Total institutions are special types of coercive organizations.
D) Normative organizations are always involved charitable giving.

Accepted Answer

Total institutions are a specific type of coercive organization in which individuals are isolated from society and subjected to strict control and authority. Utilitarian organizations can be either for-profit or non-profit, and formal organizations can start out as bureaucracies but may not necessarily evolve in that particular direction. Normative organizations involve voluntary membership based on shared interests or values, but they do not always involve charitable giving.

Question 15

Regardless of where one is, a hamburger purchased at McDonald's is likely to be very much the same. This is due to what Ritzer called
A) efficiency.
B) calculability.
C) predictability.
D) control.

Accepted Answer

Ritzer's concept of predictability, as part of his McDonaldization thesis, refers to the idea that no matter where a McDonald's is located, customers can expect the same service, menu, and product quality. This ensures a uniform experience across all outlets.

Question 16

The informal structure of a bureaucracy
A) includes social interactions outside the formal structure.
B) develops among those at the top of the organizational structure.
C) increases the feelings of solidarity among all workers.
D) uses alternate channels to get some things done faster.

Accepted Answer

Informal structures in a bureaucracy include social interactions and relationships that occur outside the formal organizational chart, often influencing how work gets done.

Question 17

Individuals often join _____ organizations, such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, for monetary reasons.
A) coercive
B) volunteer
C) normative
D) utilitarian

Accepted Answer

Utilitarian organizations are formed for the purpose of providing members with material rewards, such as monetary compensation or benefits. Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are all examples of utilitarian organizations because they offer their employees salaries, bonuses, and other financial incentives in exchange for their work.

Question 18

Which of the following statements about bureaucracy is false?
A) It is uncommon for bureaucracies to meet Weber's criteria for ideal bureaucracies.
B) Secretaries and other assistants often have more power than their job description or salary indicates.
C) The informal culture of a bureaucracy typically connects high-ranking employees to those of the lower ranks.
D) Informal norms within a bureaucracy may increase or decrease worker productivity.

Accepted Answer

The statement that the informal culture of a bureaucracy typically connects high-ranking employees to those of the lower ranks is false. In fact, the informal culture of a bureaucracy often reinforces hierarchical divisions between upper and lower level employees.

Question 19

Which of the following is not characteristic of formal organizations?
A) They develop their own cultures and routine practices.
B) They are independent of any other organization.
C) They change over time but also tend to remain in existence.
D) They may be tools for creating social change.

Accepted Answer

Formal organizations can be dependent on other organizations, such as government regulation or funding. Therefore, independence is not a characteristic of formal organizations.

Question 20

According to Goffman, total institutions are _____ organizations that are cut off from the rest of society and in which members lead strictly controlled lives.
A) coercive
B) utilitarian
C) monolithic
D) . normative

Accepted Answer

Goffman defines total institutions as coercive organizations because they use force, punishment, and strict control to maintain order and obedience among their members. They are typically closed off from the rest of society and have their own rules and regulations, leading to a loss of individuality and autonomy among members. Utilitarian organizations are focused on achieving specific goals, while normative organizations are based on shared values and beliefs. Monolithic is not a term used by Goffman to describe total institutions.

Quiz 6: Groups and Organization

Deindividuation refers to

Despite being warned of danger, NASA scientists proceeded with the 1986 launch of the space shuttle Challenger, which subsequently exploded, killing all onboard. Sociological analysis of this situation finds it was caused by

Groups that are organized to pursue goals the members find worthwhile, such as Kiwanis clubs, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) , B'nai B'rith, and the National LGBTQ Task Force, are called _____organizations.

Alienation refers to the _____ and is associated with increased turnover, tardiness, absenteeism, and overall dissatisfaction with an organization.

Mac joined a well-known multilevel marketing group that sells various household cleaning products in order to be his own boss and earn what he believes will be quite a bit of money. Mac joined a _____ organization.

According to Weber, the _____ bureaucracy is characterized by a high degree of division of labor and a hierarchy of authority.

In a triad, when two of the people are interacting and form a dyad, the sociological term for the third person is

Which of the following is not characteristic of Weber's "ideal type" of bureaucracy?

Triadic segregation refers to the

The primary reason that people join normative organizations is

L. L. Janis argued that even highly educated people are subject to groupthink and illustrated this by identifying government decisions that reflected its operation. According to your text, which of these government decisions reflects groupthink?

The study of formal organizations represents an example of

The tragic cases of the Challengerin 1986 and the Columbiain 2003 are used to illustrate the point that

Which statement about organizations as sociologists view them is correct?

Regardless of where one is, a hamburger purchased at McDonald's is likely to be very much the same. This is due to what Ritzer called

The informal structure of a bureaucracy

Individuals often join _____ organizations, such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, for monetary reasons.

Which of the following statements about bureaucracy is false?

Which of the following is not characteristic of formal organizations?

According to Goffman, total institutions are _____ organizations that are cut off from the rest of society and in which members lead strictly controlled lives.