Question 1

What is the term used for the set of cultural beliefs and practices that helps to maintain powerful social,economic,and political interests?

Accepted Answer

The term used for the set of cultural beliefs and practices that helps to maintain powerful social, economic, and political interests is the dominant ideology.

Question 2

Which sociological perspective would be most likely to focus on gatekeeping as a process that reflects a desire to maximize profits by those with power and authority?

Accepted Answer

The conflict perspective focuses on the struggle for power and resources in society. Gatekeeping, which refers to the process of controlling access to information, resources, or opportunities, can be seen as a way for those with power and authority to maintain their control and maximize their profits. Therefore, the conflict perspective would be most likely to focus on gatekeeping as a process that reflects a desire to maximize profits by those with power and authority.

Question 3

How many primetime series out of nearly sixty-aired in recent years-did researchers find focused on minority performers?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How many primetime series out of nearly...

Question 4

Eli Pariser wrote The Filter Bubble,which discusses the

Accepted Answer

The Filter Bubble, written by Eli Pariser, discusses how search engines use algorithms to filter the results that we see, showing us content that we are already familiar with and may be biased towards our interests and beliefs. This can create a "bubble" of limited information, which can have negative effects on our exposure to diverse perspectives and ideas. Pariser's book does not specifically focus on competition between search engines, Google's monopoly, or the digital divide.

Question 5

Which medium experiences the least amount of gatekeeping?

Accepted Answer

The Internet experiences the least amount of gatekeeping compared to the other mediums listed. This is because anyone can publish content online without needing approval from traditional gatekeepers such as editors or broadcasters. Social media platforms and blogs allow individuals to share their perspectives and ideas without being filtered or edited by traditional gatekeepers.

Question 6

Which sociologist(s)first identified the effects of viewer fatigue and created the term narcotizing dysfunction?

Accepted Answer

Paul Lazarsfeld and Robert Merton were the sociologists who first identified the effects of viewer fatigue and created the term narcotizing dysfunction in their 1948 study "Communication, Mass Media, and Public Opinion."

Question 7

In the U.S. ,one out of every four women is considered obese.How many characters are portrayed as obese on television?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the U.S. ,one out of every...

Question 8

The creation of unreliable generalizations that distort the reality of persons,groups,and cultures is indicative of

Accepted Answer

The creation of unreliable generalizations that distort the reality of persons, groups, and cultures is indicative of stereotyping.

Question 9

Which of the following statements is NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

The concept of narcotizing dysfunction was identified by Paul Lazarsfeld and Robert Merton in the 1940s, not the 1980s.

Question 10

George is the executive producer of a small recording company with an established label.He rejects a popular local band because it competes with a group already on their label.He functions as a

Accepted Answer

George is acting as a gatekeeper by deciding which bands will be signed to his label and which ones will not. He is controlling the flow of potential artists into his company.

Question 11

There is very little representation of the racial diversity of the U.S.on television,even though ________ percent of all youths in the U.S.are children of color.

Accepted Answer

According to demographic data, approximately 45% of all youths in the U.S. are children of color, highlighting the disparity in racial representation on television.

Question 12

Worldwide,low-income groups,racial and ethnic minorities,rural residents,and the citizens of developing countries have far less access than others to the latest technologies.This gap is referred to as the

Accepted Answer

The term commonly used to refer to the gap in technology access between different groups is the digital divide. This gap can be seen in differences in access to devices like computers and smartphones, as well as access to high-speed internet and other digital resources. Low-income groups, racial and ethnic minorities, rural residents, and citizens of developing countries are all examples of populations that may be disproportionately affected by the digital divide.

Question 13

Which sociological perspective would be most likely to support the idea that a dominant ideology is created through media images and is used to construct a reality based on protecting the interests of the powerful?

Accepted Answer

The conflict perspective emphasizes the role of power and inequality in shaping society. It suggests that dominant ideologies are created and maintained by those who have power and that the media is a tool used to reinforce these ideologies. This perspective would argue that media images are used to construct a reality that protects the interests of the powerful, rather than reflecting an objective reality.

Question 14

A major network news agency that discourages reporting of issues concerning homosexuality is most likely practicing

Accepted Answer

Gatekeeping refers to the process by which information is filtered for dissemination, whether for publication, broadcasting, the Internet, or some other mode of communication. In this context, the news agency is deciding not to report on issues concerning homosexuality, thus acting as a gatekeeper by controlling the flow of information to the public based on its own criteria or biases.

Question 15

The U.S.is a major player in the global media domain.However,other nations play a role in creating a dominant ideology,as evidenced by the popularity of ________,which originated in Sweden.

Accepted Answer

Survivor originated in Sweden with the show "Expedition Robinson" before being adapted for U.S. audiences. Its popularity and influence on reality TV programming demonstrate the role of other nations in shaping global media discourse and dominant ideologies.

Question 16

Which sociological perspective(s)would be most likely to emphasize that the mass media exacerbate many divisions in our society,including those based on gender,race,ethnicity,and social class?

Accepted Answer

The conflict perspective emphasizes how power and inequality shape social relationships, while the feminist perspective specifically examines how gender inequality contributes to social divisions. Both perspectives would argue that the mass media exacerbate divisions in society by perpetuating stereotypes and reinforcing power imbalances based on attributes like gender, race, ethnicity, and social class. The functionalist perspective would be less likely to focus on these issues, as it tends to view society as a stable entity with various parts working together for the common good. The global and interactionist perspectives might touch on these issues, but not as comprehensively as the conflict and feminist perspectives.

Question 17

The term media monitoring is used most often to refer to

Accepted Answer

Media monitoring is most commonly used to describe the practice of interest groups monitoring media content for specific issues or perspectives, such as political bias or representation of certain groups. It is not typically used to describe the other options listed.

Question 18

Realistic portrayals of minorities and working-class persons tend to be ignored by mass media decision-makers primarily because

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that mass media decision-makers are overwhelmingly made up of wealthy White males who tend to overlook realistic portrayals of minorities and working-class individuals in favor of content that appeals to their own experiences and interests. Nielsen ratings may play a role in decision-making, but the demographic makeup of decision-makers is a more significant factor in the lack of diversity in media representation. Choices A and D are incorrect because they make assumptions about viewer preferences and do not acknowledge the influence of media decision-makers.

Question 19

The U.S.government was heavily criticized for which of the following media monitoring behaviors after the September 11,2001,attacks?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. government was heavily criticized for authorizing wiretaps of U.S. citizens' telephone conversations under the guise of national security after the September 11, 2001, attacks. This controversial practice raised concerns about civil liberties and privacy rights.

Question 20

The process by which a relatively small number of people control what eventually reaches the audience is referred to as

Accepted Answer

Gatekeeping refers to the process of filtering and selecting information before it is presented to the audience. This process is typically controlled by a relatively small group of people, such as editors, producers, or executives, who make decisions about what gets covered and how it is presented in the media. The dominant ideology refers to the prevailing values, beliefs, and assumptions that shape public opinion and guide social norms. The surveillance function refers to the role of the media in monitoring and reporting on events and issues of public interest. The narcotizing dysfunction refers to the phenomenon of individuals becoming passive and apathetic in response to an overwhelming amount of information, leading to a lack of meaningful action.

Quiz 20: Sociological Perspectives on the Media